St.Kitts Nevis receives the Queen’s Baton on its journey to a record number of countries

Sports Minister Glen Phillip (left) and NOC/CGA President Alphonso Bridgewater

ZIZ News…March 19, 2010 – The Queen’s Baton Relay is now in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis as part of its journey to 71 countries in the Commonwealth before its arrival in New Delhi India for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The welcoming party at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport included the President of the NOC/CGA Mr. Alphonso Bridgewater and Members of the Executive, along with the Honourable Glen Phillip, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports, Information Technology, Telecommunications and Post and Former Commonwealth 100 Metre Champion, Kim Collins.

As the plane arrived on the tarmac from Montserrat at around 11 o’clock Friday morning, the torch was held by regional Commonwealth Official Fortuna Belrose which was then taken to the VIP lounge where a short ceremony was held to welcome the QBR to St. Kitts.

The last time the baton was in St. Kitts Nevis was in 2006 but according to NOC President Alphonso Bridgewater, it is the first time the torch will be travelling to so many countries and traveling so many miles before it reaches to the host venue.

From the RLB International Airport the baton was taken to Government House where a courtesy was made on the Governor General his Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian and then on to Government Headquarters where the Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas received it and sent it on its way to various parts of the Island and then on the sister island of Nevis.

This year (October 2010), the 19th edition of the Commonwealth Games will be staged in Delhi, India, and the QBR is scheduled, once again, to wind its way around the world touching down on each one of the 71 nations which comprise the Commonwealth. The Relay started its journey around the globe on October 29, 2009 when it was officially launched and sent on its way, from Buckingham Palace, London, England, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On this occasion, the QBR will surpass its previous record and amass a grand total of some 190,000 kilometers over a period of 336 days.

Arrival on tarmac	Regional Commonwealth Official Fortuna Belrose
NOC President meeting QBR delegation	National atheltic icon Kim Collins holding torch
Welcome Party posing with torch	Sports Minister and National Queen Sudeakka Francis