Amidst numerous organizational delays and controversies, the formal countdown to the 2010 Commonwealth Games began on Thursday as the Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II presented India’s President Pratibha Patil with the baton to launch the XIX Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games outside Buckingham Palace in London.

The brief ceremony held at the Buckingham Palace portrayed India’s rich tradition through a cultural show before Queen Elizabeth II handed over the glittering baton to Patil followed by a thunderous applause.

The Queen placed her message into the baton after receiving it from Commonwealth Games Federation Michael Fennell as a host of dignitaries watched the proceedings beamed live in India.

As the proceedings were telecasted live back in the country, India’s President Pratibha Patil passed on the baton to Sports Minister of India M.S. Gill, who further handed it over to Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

From Kalmadi baton reached the hands of first baton-bearer Abhinav Bindra, India’s only Olympic Gold medallist. He handed over the baton to legendary middle-distance runner Lord Sebastian Coe.
Further the baton passed through the hands of legendary cricketer Kapil Dev, country’s most successful female tennis player Sania Mirza, flying sikh Milkha Singh, Olympic bronze medal winners boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar and also England’s first Sikh cricketer Monty Panesar among other Indian sports personalities.

After travelling to different member countries of the Commonwealth, the Baton will enter India through Wagah Border along Pakistan, 100 days before the start of the Games.