Queen’s Baton enters India

At the Indian end,the tension was palpable,with Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi gesturing wildly at his watch,as the time approached. While the Organising Committee staff donning purple track suits were busy running around with last-minute preparations,a cultural programme was going on in the background with not many people paying any attention. While dances from Punjab,Kashmir,Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan were showcased,the unrelenting sun coupled with the bad audio system meant the audience had no applause to offer in return. However,the decibel levels and the enthusiasm on the other side was much better.

The baton was presented by Pakistan Olympic Association chief Lt Gen Syed Arif Hassan and his colleagues to Suresh Kalmadi,with the Games mascot Shera happily waddling along.

The crossing over of the Queen’s Baton created some momentum on the Indian side,with the BSF band playing at its best.

Nearly half a dozen dignitaries lined up to hold the baton. Kalmadi handed it over to Commonwealth Games federation chief Mike Fennel,who gave it to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. The baton was then passed on to Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur,Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil,Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar among others. Sportspersons Vijender Singh and M C Mary Kom were the last to get the baton. Almost comically the entire exercise of baton changing hands was once again repeated on the stage.

Speaking at the function,Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit first thanked the Commonwealth Games Federation for allowing the Games to be held in Delhi. “It is my proud privilege that my city will get the opportunity to host such a great event,” she said. “This day will be a turning point for Olympic sports in India,” Kalmadi said.

A radiant Mike Fennel said all preparations for the Games were on track. “Earlier,everybody had anticipated about the Games’ future in Delhi. But now the OC is working day and night to leave no stone unturned to make it a success. I am sure that the Delhi Games will be a good celebration,” he added.

Salman Taseer,the Governor of Pakistan’s Punjab who walked into India with the baton,called this a historic day in Indo-Pak relations. “While we are celebrating friendship through sports here, foreign secretaries of both countries are meeting in Lahore,” he elaborated.

The ceremony came to a close with a duet performed by Wadali brothers and Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

The baton will now pass through all states and Union territories before reaching its final destination,the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,for the opening ceremony on October 3. After Amritsar,the baton will pass through other cities in Punjab like Jalandhar,Ludhiana,Patiala and Pathankot before entering Jammu and Kashmir by the end of this month.