The Queen's Baton Relay will be arriving in Malta on Sunday and it will be the second time that it is being hosted by Malta, which is the ninth country being visited from among the 71 participating countries.

Addressing the press yesterday, Dr Lucienne Attard, general secretary of the Organising Committee said the programme will start at 4.30pm at the Marsa Racetrack where Raymond Clifton and Charles Camilleri, two well known drivers, will take the Baton on a 'serkin' round the track, accompanied by four Cavalry policemen. The horse being used for the event is Uquito d'Orphee, now retired, but which has won several championships in the past.

On Monday, there will be the official start of the Baton Relay Malta at the Ministry of Education in Floriana, where the Minister of Education, Dr Louis Galea, will present the Baton to schoolchildren who will then take it to Castille Place where it will be presented to the MOC President, Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, HE Richard Pal, Australian High Commissioner, and the Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi.

Later it will go round Valletta to the quay at the Old Customs House where various regatta boats will transport it to St Angelo to be met by children from Vittoriosa and Cospicua Primary Schools and from De la Salle College.

Later it will be at the Msida Marina Garden with members of the Ladies Running Club, athletes, cyclists, triathletes and shooter William Chetcuti carrying it for a visit to the British and Australian High Commissions. It will be the mayor of Ta' Xbiex, Antoinette Vassallo, who will present it to the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Richard Palk, and the staff at the High Commission.

From there it will take off with members of the national rugby team carrying it to Sliema where the mayor, Albert Bonello DuPuis and the MOC president, Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco will be present. At 4.30pm, it will be at the Ta' Frina roundabout in Rabat Road where members of the women's national basketball team (who have qualified for the Commonwealth Games) will carry it to Saqqajja Hill and on to Mdina's Cathedral Square.

The last day will be Tuesday 12 April with the Baton visiting Zejtun Primary School and being carried in a Relay to Carlo Diacono School.

Speakers at yesterday's conference included the Australian High Commissioner in Malta, HE Richard Palk who said he was honoured to be involved in this event forming part of the 18th Commonwealth Games being held next March (15-26) in Melbourne.

He added this year's relay was the longest ever run - it is being carried over 180,000 kilometres and visiting 71 nations, home to one third of the world's population.

He also said that more than 60 per cent of Commonwealth nations will be hosting their first Queen's Baton Relay.

Palk said the Melbourne 2006 programme will comprise 12 individual and four team sports with a total of 24 disciplines to be contested.

He added that the showpiece of the Games will be the Cricket Ground, the site for the Opening and Closing ceremonies, athletics and the start and finish of the marathon.

He finally wished the Maltese success in Melbourne next year.

Ms Janet Hancocks, Deputy British High Commissioner, referred to the last Games edition in Manchester and said they were the most successful so far. She added these Games were just promoting just sport and culture, but also the Commonwealth ideals.

She also augured success for the Maltese athletes in Melbourne.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco, the MOC president, also referred to Manchester as well as the Sydney Olympics, describing them as the best two events he had ever attended.

"But I am sure Melbourne will be doing everything within its limits to be labelled 'the best'", he said.

He laid the emphasis on Sport as a means of friendship and fraternity and hoped that Malta would repeat, at least, the recent successes, two bronze medals in two different editions, if not move a step forward and get a silver this time round.