Queen's Baton Relay to enter India on June 25

Bangalore, May 19 (ANI): The Queen's Baton Relay, which commenced from the Buckingham Palace at London, having covered its long journey around the globe will arrive in India on June 25 from Pakistan at the Wagah border.

India is host country to stage the Commonwealth Games 2010.

So far this baton relay has covered nearly 135,000 kilometres.

Addressing media persons during a news conference Lieutenant General (retired) Raj Kadyan, a member of the Organising Committee informed that today the baton is in New Zealand.

"International relay's last 240 days will cover a distance of 170,000 kilometres over the globe. It will cover all the six regions of the world and will reach out to over one-third of the world population. As of today which is the 203rd day, the baton is in New Zealand," said Lt. Gen. (retired) Raj Kadyan, member, Organising Committee Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi, while addressing the media at Bangalore.

The day when the baton enters India would also signify the countdown of the 100 days to go for the mega event of Commonwealth Games.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are the nineteenth edition of the Commonwealth Games, and the ninth to be held under that name. The Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi, between October 3 to 14, 2010.

The games will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi and India generally, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982.

The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. It will also be the first time the Commonwealth Games will be held in India and the second time the event has been held in Asia (after 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). (ANI)