In the run up to the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Delhi in October 2010, and as is customary for the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Commonwealth Games Association of Malta, which is the part of the Maltese Olympic Committee responsible for the Commonwealth Games, will host the Queen’s Baton Relay for the third time in Malta.

The Queen’s Baton will arrive in Malta today.

The programme for this visit is as follows:

Today

The Queen’s Baton will arrive in Malta at 1.20pm from Cyprus.

In the evening, the High Commissioner of India, Ms M. Manimekalai, in collaboration with Mr Johan Cuschieri, Honorary Consul for India in Malta, will host a reception in honour of the arrival of the Queen’s Baton in Malta.

Tomorrow

At 11.30am, a group of about 25 swimmers, accompanied by the traditional Regatta boats, canoes and sailing boats, will leave the Excelsior Hotel jetty to Sliema pitch.

While the swimmers will go on shore in Sliema, the boats will proceed and enter the Grand Harbour and will approach the Maritime Museum area in Birgu as well as Water Front in Valletta and return to the Excelsior Jetty.

During this time the Queen’s Baton will be carried on the various boats. This should prove to be a very good opportunity for interesting photo shoots which can be used to promote our island.

In the evening, the Queen’s Baton will be the special feature during the MOC’s Gala Sports Awards celebration which will be held at the Excelsior Hotel.

Monday

The Queen’s Baton will visit various schools including Sacred Heart, Sliema, Gzira Primary and Secondary Schools, San Gwann A and B.

This will be followed by a run along the Sliema seafront. School children from Sliema Primary, Sliema JL, St. Julian’s Primary, St. Patricks, Gzira Secondary, MCAST, athletes and the public will run along the Sliema Sea Front with the Queen’s Baton.

In the afternoon, the Baton will then visit Pembroke Primary School and the Pembroke Junior Lyceum.

In the evening the Queen’s Baton will visit the headquarters of the Indian Community in San Gwann.

The Commonwealth Games Association of Malta, has thanked all the many people who have given their full support towards the organisation of this year’s activities, in particular, Ms Maria Ciappara, Principal of St Clare’s College, the heads of schools and all the teachers, the Malta Police, Malta International Airport, Customs officers, Mr Cuschieri, Honorary Consul for India in Malta, as well as the High Commissioner of India, Ms M. Manimekalai. Travelling with the Queen’s Baton will be Ian Emerson, Regional Vice President of the CGF, Ms Avny Lavasa, Representative of the Organising Committee, Ms Annemaree Lavella, Relay Consultant and Mr Mahesh Shankar, official photographer.

The Baton will leave the Island next Tuesday on its way to Sierra Leone.