The Queen's Baton Relay Launch

In 288 days time, athletes from all over the Commonwealth will gather in

Glasgow for the start of the 20th Commonwealth games. And the journey

to that opening ceremony begins here at Buckingham Palace this morning.

Welcome to the Queen's Baton Relay. Good morning from Buckingham Palace,

where the final countdown to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

is about to get under way. This morning, Her Majesty will launch the

Queen's Baton Relay from the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, as

it starts its extraordinary journey around the world, before arriving

back in Scotland next June. It is a journey that will last 288 days, as

the baton is carried almost 120,000 miles to every Commonwealth nation

and territory in the world -70 in total. And inside that baton will be

and territory in the world -70 in a message from the Queen to the

Commonwealth. It will be written on parchment, which she will place in

the baton this morning. It is a message that will not be read until

the opening ceremony of the Games, @ tic part, on the 23rd of July next

year, when the final battle in Berrow will return the baton to the

Queen. -- the final baton Berra. The journey this morning begins here at

St James 's Palace, and at nearby Marlborough house, right next door.

In just a few minutes' time, the Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy will

be setting off, carrying the empty baton to the Palace, accompanied by

the pipes and drums of the first Battalion Scots Guards and the pipes

and drums of the first Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales waiting in

the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, almost 200 dignitaries and VIPs who

have been invited to watch the launch ceremony this morning. A

whole assortment of dignitaries, high commissioners from many of the

70 Commonwealth nations and territories, the sports minister for

Scotland will be there, the leader of Glasgow City Council. And waiting

outside the gates, many of the public, waiting to see that moment

of history, when the Queen puts the message to the Commonwealth in the

emptied out on this morning. And gathered in the forecourt of

Buckingham Palace are schoolchildren, who have been chosen

from Glasgow, 25 of them from Glasgow, from a school right next to

the velodrome, and also from schools in London. They are carrying a flag

representing every nation and territory, 70 in total. And there

are many of the dignitaries. The Secretary of State Scotland,

Alistair Carmichael, will be there. The Home Secretary, Theresa May, is

expected. And many people from the charity Unicef, the partner charity

for the 2014 games. And this morning, we will also be in Celtic

for the 2014 games. And this Park, which, after all, is where the

baton is heading, its final destination, for the opening

ceremony, in 288 days time. And what a Games it rises to become with some

of the world's top athletes competing against the next

generation of stars in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators

who will head to Glasgow to see them all in action. Before the Queen's

who will head to Glasgow to see them Baton Relay gets under way, let's

have a quick look at what is in store next year. It is August 1930,

and the Canadian city of Hamilton is the scene of the British Empire

games. It was a small affair, just six sports and 11 teams, but it was

the start of what is now the third largest multisport event in the

world. And next year, it is coming to Scotland. Athletes from 71

nations and territories will arrive to Scotland. Athletes from 71

in Glasgow, battling for 216 medals in 17 sporting events, including a

record 22 parasport events. Many well-known stars will be there. Over

ten days, Glasgow will be at the heart of the Games, with events at

four major sites in the city. Some events will be staged further

afield, including in Edinburgh and Dundee. The triathlon, fittingly,

will be held at the Strathclyde Country Park near Hamilton, whose

namesake was where it all began, all those years ago. I am joined just

outside Buckingham Palace by two people who know all about the

Commonwealth, and of course next year's Games. The royal biographer

Robert Lacey and the Deputy Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games,

Ty Speer. We saw there the humble origins of these Games, they have

grown into this huge international event - how important are these

Games for the Queen? They are tremendously important for her

personally. When future historians look back at the Queen and say, what

did this woman do, one of the things they will say is the creation of the

British Commonwealth of Nations, this incredible family of former

colonies, and some other countries as well, which does not exist

anywhere else in the world. France and other imperial countries have

their empires, but we retained this fellowship with Australia, Canada

and these other countries, and it was very much the work of the Queen,

who stuck to it, even when some British prime ministers were not so

keen on the Commonwealth. She wanted it and she always saw the importance

of the Commonwealth Games. It represents 2 billion citizens, and

this message which will be inserted into the baton this morning, it goes

through all of the nations and territories, it is an invitation to

join the Games... And it is a territories, it is an invitation to

wonderful reminder that every country will be covered by the local

news programmes, the baton will be carried by ordinary people, as a

reminder of how important this British family of nations is. Ty

Speer, you are leading the way in 2014, and you were very heavily

involved in the London Olympics as well, so do you think there is a

momentum shift which will happen from London to Glasgow? Absolutely.

We are seeing that already. What we know now then clear is that people

are ready for the next major event in the UK, in Glasgow, in 288 days.

The momentum is definitely building, and today will be another fantastic

The momentum is definitely building, milestone to prove how exciting the

event is going to be, and how connected we all will be, through

the baton. The Queen's Baton Relay, then, reminiscent of the torch relay

last year before the Olympics, but this baton is going to travel a lot

further, and it will be carried by a lot more people, on its epic journey

around the globe, from Sydney Harbour Bridge to the forests of

Rwanda, from Pacific Islands to the mountain is in Scotland. The baton

is the Queen's official invitation to the 70 nations and territories of

the Commonwealth, and our Commonwealth Games reporter, Jane

Lewis, has been to find out more about it.

We brainstormed, and what I was trying to get was a link between the

three words, culture, message and sport. We have broken it down, so

you have got the puzzle box mechanism, the way the message is

housed, in the lattice work, among other things. The baton is made from

elm, sourced from the Isle of Cumbrae, an island off western

Scotland. In tribute to Scotland's shipbuilding heritage, it was

crafted using a special technique, employed by boat yards. It is a

technique for making masters. You make eight identical slats, with a

groove in them, and you put them together to get a very stable shape

with a hollow space inside which we can use for running electronics down

inside. From the baton's handle to its lattice frame... There is a lot

of latticework around Glasgow, especially with the Clyde, the

cranes and stuff. Les go again providing the inspiration, as

cranes and stuff. Les go again different layers of pure titanium

powder, used together by a laser, have produced a stunning effect. It

is inside this frame where the Queen's message will be carried

around the Commonwealth, a central feature, lit up by LED lighting. So,

to the top of the baton, and a granite gemstone, unique to

Scotland. That gap does not have to be there, I could move all of this

up... The stone, from the uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig,

will be released by a special mechanism, adding a quirky twist to

the story of the making of the. Baton We have achieved something

which is truly great I love it. It is all credit to the team that has

put it together. There is the baton, and the man who will be

carrying it first this morning is the Scottish cyclist Sir Chris Hoy,

who is just a stones throw from here, at Marlborough house, the

headquarters of the Commonwealth. It was once a royal palace, now home to

the Commonwealth Secretariat. My colleague Andrew Cotter is with him.

Yes, and Friary caught is where the pipes are gathering. Chris Roy is

going to escort them down the Bell. It is a tremendous honour for you,

even after all you have achieved... Yes, it is a huge honour. I am

looking forward to it, it is a fantastic location. Everybody is

raring to go. Of course, you have the velodrome named after you, but

how difficult was the decision not to compete? It was not easy, but

ultimately, my body made that choice for me, whether or not I could

continue at the highest level, and sadly, I could not. Your body can

only maintain that level of performance for so long. But it is

good to be fantastic to be an ambassador for the Games, to immerse

myself in the Games. Normally, you are so engrossed in your own sport,

you do not get that chance. You have won six medals in the Olympics, of

course, but the Commonwealth Games was where it all started for you

back in 2002, so what does it signify for you? It was the start of

my whole career, starting off in Kuala Lumpur, in 1998. Then there

was 2002, Melbourne, 2006, where I won a gold medal. Sony happy

memories. It was really the catalyst, the spark that got

everything going, helping me to move on and achieve more. One of the

keywords about the Olympic aims was legacy, and we can see you with the

Unicef badge on your lapel, this has to be about the future, changing

Glasgow, changing the attitude of young people towards sport as well?

Absolutely. You can see the difference it makes to young

people's lives. Unicef are partnering with Glasgow 2014 to

improve the lives of children all across the Commonwealth. But it is

also about at home in Glasgow, in Scotland, although young children

who will hopefully be inspired by the Games, and take up sport and

make it part of their lives. Over there is the mascot, Clyde, and some

of the athletes as well. At least I hope that is Clyde the mascot! But

the band is waiting, and the baton is waiting as well. Chris Roy, thank

you very much for talking to us. Thank you, a very important job to

do indeed. They will all be setting off any minute now, heading along

The Mall macro, a very short journey up to the forecourt of Buckingham

Palace. There, pressed against the railings, hundreds and hundreds of

people who have been gathering all morning. Yes, right in front of the

gates here at Buckingham Palace, a sizeable crowd has gathered. Some of

them came to see the changing of the guard. They are getting quite a

bonus. But some have come specifically for the Queen's Baton

Relay Launch. Among those people, joining me now, Judith, Elaine and

William. Judith, you were a Gamesmaker at the limpet games, and

you have applied to do the same job at the Commonwealth Games... Yes, it

was really wonderful. I hope I am lucky enough to be selected. It is a

real thrill to be able to be here today. Why did you make the effort

to come to this event? I have never actually seen the launch of the

baton relay, and it is in the UK, it is in London, and I live in London,

although I am Welsh, obviously, but it is just a thrill to be here. I am

looking forward to seeing Allan it is just a thrill to be here. I am

Wells and Sir Chris Hoy. With me also, Elaine and William, teachers

at a high school in Glasgow which I understand is one of the closest

schools to the Commonwealth Village. Your pupils are here

today... Yes, it is such an amazing opportunity for them to carry the

flags. We are delighted to be here today. Unfortunately they are inside

and you are out here. That is correct but it is good for the young

people of the high school to be ambassadors for Unicef and for the

young people of Glasgow. Yes, really making them feel involved in the

Commonwealth Games. Thanks to all three of you. Have a lovely day. My

hope you enjoy it. We are waiting for Sir Chris Hoy to come down The

Mall and through those gates as the Queen's Baton Relay unfolds. Back to

you. Thank you. The scene is set. They are waiting for the baton which

will depart shortly from St James' Palace.

You might be able to see the event that is being hosted by Gabby Logan

for 2014. Sir Chris Hoy will be ringing the baton to the stage that

is set in front of the palace. -- bringing the baton. People from

Unicef, high Commissioners, representing many of the

Commonwealth nations. You can see Clyde in the background as well, the

mascot. He was born, as it were, a year ago. He has been introduced to

hundreds of thousands of people. Sir Chris Hoy is getting his last-minute

instructions. Carrying the baton. And the Scots Guards 1st Battalion

pipes and drums band is ready for the short procession that will lead

them up The Mall. Sir Chris Hoy will be leading them this morning.

And there he is taking his place, wearing, he told me earlier, the

kilt that he got married in which he saves for very special occasions.

There is the wonderful baton that has been designed and made in

Glasgow, in Scotland. That is the baton that he will bring up The Mall

shortly. It is quite a moment, isn't it? 288 days might seem like a long

way away but the Games will be upon you before you network. Yes. There

is a great deal of momentum building and I think we will be able to build

that momentum across the Commonwealth and it is what the

baton is about. Are very proud moment for Sir Chris Hoy but a shame

that he will not be competing in the Velodrome named after him. The Sir

Chris Hoy Velodrome is a new venue that we are very proud of. He is not

competing but he is one of our ambassadors. This is Nicola

competing but he is one of our Benedetti, the classical violinist.

We will leave Nicola Benedetti there. She is playing My Love Is

Like A Red, Red Rose. And as you can see, the procession is finally under

way. The 11 time World Champion, six time Olympic champion, two-time

Commonwealth champion, one of the greatest athletes of all time

carrying the empty baton as the procession starts towards Buckingham

Palace. Sir Chris Hoy has competed at three Commonwealth Games himself.

Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, Melbourne, and it was 15 years ago at Kuala

Lumpur that he took his first steps onto the international stage. His

first major appearance at the major Games. The big moment for him, you

were telling us earlier. And he is accompanied by the Scots Guards 1st

Battalion pipes and drums band. The Scots Guards have a very proud

history of guarding the monarchy. Yes, one of the oldest regiments.

The third oldest. You can see their uniforms, with buttons in groups of

three, dating back to 1642, the beginning of the English civil war

when Charles I chose them as his personal protective squad. They have

fought in every single war that Britain has been engaged in, most

recently the First World War, the Second World War and Afghanistan. We

should remember that the bandsmen that we are seeing, people think the

men outside Buckingham Palace are just ceremonial, but they are all

active fighting soldiers and they have seen active duty. The bandsmen

are trained regular soldiers who have fought in Afghanistan. The

music is almost a hobby for them and they take great pride in it. Let's

talk about the baton relay itself because it is a unique tradition of

these games. It was first staged in 1958 for the Games in Cardiff and

has been the curtain raiser ever since for the Commonwealth Games.

The idea behind it is to unite the 2 billion citizens of the Commonwealth

in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. The Queen's Baton Relays

get longer and longer, don't they? They started at first in England and

the host nation that this will travel hundreds of thousands of

kilometres. It is a major undertaking and it will be in the

international markets for 248 days. It is a major logistical exercise

with great cooperation right across the nation is that it will visit. We

are ready and we are about to leave tomorrow. It will be a great

promotional journey for the event. A lot of people will remember the

promotional journey for the event. A great torch protection team at the

Olympics, police accompanying it everywhere. You have assets

protectors, don't you? There are just two of them and they are low

profile. We are taking a light touch. We think people will respect

the baton and no pit is about friendship and cooperation and we

think we can take a light touch. -- and people know it is about. Gabby

Logan will be receiving it. The baton is designed to embody

Glasgow's Scottish history and culture. The beautiful titanium

latticework and inside you might be able to glimpse the transparent

cylinder, which is where the message will be placed shortly by the Queen.

Inside the cylinder, LED lights, which light up so that you can see

the message at all times. The designers were very keen that the

message should be visible and on show at all times. It was also

designed, of course, to withstand all kinds of elements because it

will travel a very long way and through all kinds of climates, at

Manton is, through jungles, the forests of Rwanda -- up mountains.

So it will see a lot of weather. Sir Chris Hoy looks like he is enjoying

himself as he makes his way towards the memorial. The Commonwealth, when

you think about the moment we are about to see when the Queen puts the

message into the baton, it has grown throughout her reign, hasn't it? It

has. When the Queen was born in 1926 it was not called the Commonwealth.

It was the Empire. This is a great achievement to Shepherd and outdated

imperial exploitative organisation into a genuine family of nations.

And the goodwill that is generated by the games analyses that for the

Queen. She will recall the Empire games in the 1930s, the first being

in Ontario, in Hamilton. For a child growing up in the reign of Elizabeth

II, the regular coming round of the Commonwealth Games was just a

regular reminder of the spread of the Commonwealth family of nations

and the good feeling between them. There were difficult times, in the

apartheid years South Africa was excluded from the Commonwealth. Many

people would say that the Commonwealth played a very valuable

role in shepherding South Africa from those dark days into the

independence that it enjoys today. Sir Chris Hoy reaching the green

Victoria Memorial. The crowds have gathered for a couple of hours now,

waiting to catch a glimpse of Chris and the message being put into the

baton. There is already a real buzz about Glasgow 2014. The momentum is

really gathering pace. We are feeling it more and more. From the

one-year to go mark, gaining pace every day. People want to be there

for the big event. It is only 288 days away and we are getting

positive messages throughout the UK and especially in Scotland. It is

going to be a fun time when the Games are on. What does it mean to

you to be watching Sir Chris Hoy this morning? It is exciting and it

reminds us of the power of the games and the ability to bring together

everybody for the event. We have a lot to do to make sure everything is

ready for the athletes, the fans, the officials, all the groups, but

we will make sure that we work hard and be ready. We will use the next

288 days to make sure it is right on target. Sadly Sir Chris Hoy himself

will not be competing but Usain Bolt could be on the track. We are

certainly expecting the best of the Commonwealth. When you look at the

way athletes compete on the international stage, we will get

world-class competition. The athletes are saying that they want

to be there. We will have terrific athletes next summer. I asked Sir

Chris Hoy if he would feel emotional at this moment and he said he was

not sure. But he certainly looks like he is having a wonderful time.

Enjoying it as he carries it through the gates and into the forecourt of

the palace. There are other 70 children from schools in Glasgow and

London gathering behind him as he reaches the stage and Gabby Logan.

Be careful now! I think it is steady. It is a thing of beauty. It

is and quite heavy, too. My arms! What does it mean to you to bring

the baton in here and deliver it to Her Majesty the Queen? It is a

massive honour and it brings home how soon the games will be

arriving. This is the start of the final leg of the journey and I am

very proud. Why does the baton really captured the imagination so

much? It will go round all of the Commonwealth, all of the nations,

and ignite enthusiasm for the Games. The athletes are already training

hard for the Games but it will get people excited about this amazing

event. What are you looking forward to? Personally, experiencing the

games from the other side. No longer competing and being able to enjoy

them without focusing so much on performance. Beyond that it is the

legacy, which will inspire a whole new generation, and not just in

Scotland and Glasgow but wider than that with Unicef's partnership,

hopefully improving the lives of children across the Commonwealth. So

many positive things will come out of these Games. The sport is one

thing and the culture is another. We heard Nicola Benedetti before.

Glasgow offers a range of cultural activities and sporting activities

for people to enjoy, and see the city at its very best. They will.

Glasgow is famous for being friendly and these are the Friendly Games.

Glaswegians are notoriously brilliant at extending their

hospitality. It is our chance to put on a party, put on the show, and

really inspire future generations. You know from the London Olympics

how the home support can really inspire the athletes. They must be

excited. Yes. I competed in Manchester and we really appreciated

the support. There is nothing like a home Games and that is why I am sad

the support. There is nothing like a I will not be competing myself.

Thank you so much. Why can't think of anyone better to deliver the

baton here today. -- icon. Thank you very much. So, the baton is here,

the stage is set. Very shortly, the royal party will enter. They will be

led by Her Majesty's Queen and his royal Highness the Duke of

Edinburgh. Accompanying them will be his royal Highness Prince Imran of

Malaysia, President Of The Commonwealth Games Federation, as

well as the chairman of the Glasgow 2014 organising committee. Lord

Smith will present the baton to Prince Imran, who will in turn

invite Her Majesty to place her message inside the baton. Her

Majesty's will then resent the baton to Allan Wells, the legendary

sprinter, who, coincidentally, was the last baton bearer to hand the

1986 Edinburgh Games baton to Her Majesty's for the opening ceremony

them. Accompanying them will be a Unicef ambassador, and then, at

last, the relay will truly begin. They will be heading up The Mall on

the first leg of the journey to Marlborough House, the home of the

Commonwealth Secretariat, where we will all join it at a reception

before it then continues on its journey. In fact, the baton will not

before it then continues on its be in London for very long at all.

It will travel to Glasgow, ready for its departure to India tomorrow.

That is all from me for now. I am going to leave you for a second as

we wait for the arrival of Her Majesty the Queen. Until then, thank

you very much, and I will see you shortly.

So, in just a few minutes, the and the Duke of Edinburgh will be

making their way towards that stage. There is Scotland's First

Minister, Alex Salmond. A proud day for him. And when the Queen reaches

Minister, Alex Salmond. A proud day the stage, she will not say anything

this morning, she will quite simply put the message, which she has

written on parchment, into the baton. I am told she penned the

message during her summer stay at Balmoral. Gathered around the stage,

you can see all of the schoolchildren, who were so excited

this morning at their opportunity, their chance to take part today.

They all had to apply, they had to e-mail the organisers and explain

They all had to apply, they had to why they felt they should be here

for this occasion. They have been rehearsing all morning.

Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding to welcome Her Majesty's

Queen, his royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, his royal Highness

Prince Imran of Malaysia, and the Right Honourable Lord Robert Smith

of Kelvin. ladies and gentlemen, please be

seated. This morning, we launch the Queen's

Baton Relay. The significance of this event for the Commonwealth

Games in Glasgow should not be underestimated. Years of planning

and preparation has gone into putting on the Games. We now reach

the moment in the countdown really begins. The baton is a tangible

object. Thousands of people will carry it, and they will bring the

Commonwealth to life in front of our eyes. As its journey unfolds, we

will see the vast diversity of landscapes and cultures and people.

The spirit of friendship will be displayed as the baton is passed

from hand to hand, reflecting the warm welcome that nations and

territories of the Commonwealth can expect when they come to Glasgow and

to Scotland next summer. This is a historic moment for Glasgow 2014. We

will treasure it, and we look forward to following closely the

Queen's Baton Relay on its momentous journey. On behalf of Glasgow 2014,

I would now like to pass the baton to the President Of The Commonwealth

Games Federation, His Royal Highness Prince Imran. The Queen's Baton

Relay is the world's most engaging relay. It has power and it has

meaning. The relay unites 2 billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a

celebration of sport, diversity and peace. It will also bring the 17

nations and territories of the Commonwealth together. Every time

the baton is passed, it will cement the friendship of the Commonwealth

and reinforce the ways in which we are connected. We share a history,

values and goals, while recognising and appreciating our diversity. The

Queen's Baton Relay brings the Commonwealth to life, in all its

glory, for the world to see. On behalf of the Commonwealth Games

Federation, it now gives me great pleasure to invite Her Majesty the

Federation, it now gives me great Queen to place her message to the

Commonwealth inside this baton. SOPHIE RAWORTH: So, now arriving

onstage, Allan Wells, one of Scotland's most successful

athletes, with four Commonwealth gold medals to his name. He takes

the baton from the Queen. Alongside him, Monica Dzonzi, an extraordinary

young woman from Malawi, who has been chosen to be the joint baton

bearer this morning. Her father died when she was nine years old, she was

told that her family did not have enough money to continue her

education, she insisted she was going to continue her education. She

worked panning and digging for gold during the day, and at night she

walked many kilometres to earn enough money to send herself to

school, and she did it. She wanted to be here to prove to people that

you could achieve your dreams. Now, they have handed the baton

227-year-old Caitlin McClatchey. She is going to begin the first lap of

the Queen Victoria Memorial, she herself a double Commonwealth gold

medallist, from Melbourne in 2006, and last year, a London 2012

finalist in the 200 meter freestyle. And she is of course hoping to

compete in Glasgow next year. Her parents both swam for the Scottish

team at the 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games respectively in

swimming. Very much in the family. Lots of applause for her as she

makes her way around. She is handing it on to another female face, the

gymnast Daniel Purvis, who you will remember from the London 2012

limits. He got a bronze medal in the artistic gymnastics. -- familiar

face. It is a great honour for these athletes today. And the first few

baton bearers, athletes from the past, from the present, as you can

see, and in a moment, Daniel Purvis will be handing on an athlete who

see, and in a moment, Daniel Purvis hopes to take part in the Games next

year. Plenty of applause from the crowd. They seem to be saying it is

quite heavy, this baton. Sir Chris Hoy was obviously quite surprised by

how much it weighed. He hands it on 215-year-old -- to 15-year-old Cara

Kennedy, from Glasgow, who already competes for Scotland, and who is

hoping to be at the Games next year. She has already gone some way

towards qualifying. So, all of these athletes continuing their lap of the

Queen Victoria Memorial. And next to receive baton will be a triple

jumper, another young, promising, Scottish athlete, Morgan McKinnon.

She is at the Glasgow School Of Art Port. -- the Lascaux School Of

Sport. Ty Speer, a lot of these athletes talking about what the home

crowd can do for you as an athlete, it must be something athletes will

only ever experience once, if they it must be something athletes will

are lucky... It is a real privilege to be able to offer that opportunity

here in the UK again, certainly for athletes who are competing on behalf

of Scotland, England and Wales. It is great, you have got an array of

athletes, from the past, the present and the future as well. One of the

great things about the Commonwealth Games is, it is often a time when

you see young athlete making their mark on the world stage. Some of

these young people we see here today, we would love to see them

coming through and making their mark. This is young Rory Kirkwood, a

swimmer, also from the Glasgow School of Sport. It is nice to see

the Duke of Edinburgh looking so well. He is looking very fit. He

certainly is. It feels like he is very much back in business. He was

out yesterday in Norfolk, and here he is again at an official

engagement at the Palace. The Queen always looks a bit nervous before

these events, and then, when it is over, you can see that smile. Well,

there is her message, being taken away from the Palace. And the next

person to take hold of the baton is waiting now. This is Izzie Conway,

born and bred in the shadow of Celtic Park in Glasgow. She is here

to represent the 15,000 volunteers who are going to be so essential to

the Games. We found out this week that they will be caught the

Clydesiders. More than 50,000 people applied to take part. Only 15,000

Clydesiders. More than 50,000 people have been lucky enough to get

positions there. They have been finding out this week. Ty Speer,

some of the volunteers will be as young as 16 years old this time...

Yes, it is the first time we have been able to have them so young. To

have people aged 16 to 18 join us in the volunteer programme and have so

many people applied, that just says great things about how many people

want to participate, young and old. This is a mere Mahmoud, with

Scotland's strongest man. He is dressed in the tartan that Amir

Mahmoud designed. He was telling us that he did not tell any of his

friends that he was doing this because he did not think they would

believe him! It is a great honour for him. We are thrilled to work

with him to design the tartan. Another great young person's story.

A great design and modelled well by Gregor. A great contribution by

young people. There is a big focus on young people. Yes. And it is the

focus across the Commonwealth. There are 1.2 billion people under the age

of 24 across the Commonwealth. It is a huge part of the Commonwealth and

of Glasgow 2014. Gregor Edmonds is helping him carry the baton this

morning, and he has been Scotland's strongest man. They are going to

carry it down The Mall, heading back towards Marlborough house, where

there will be a reception for everybody invited today. Those are

the schoolchildren, the flag-bearers, who gathered this

morning, getting ready to leave the forecourt of the palace. They will

be walking down The Mall towards Marlborough House and Sir Chris Hoy

will be leading the way when it is their turn to leave.

A great site at Buckingham Palace. Thank you to Ty Speer and Robert

Lacey. We will be hearing more from you shortly. It is quite a journey

that that baton has now started. It will be carried to all 70

Commonwealth nations and territories. It will begin in

India, the host of the last Commonwealth Games. It will be 288

days before it arrives in Glasgow for the opening ceremony of the 20th

Commonwealth Games. The man tasked for the opening ceremony of the 20th

with following it on its journey is the writer and broadcaster and

Explorer Mark Beaumont. For the 2014 Commonwealth Games... Glasgow! In

the run-up to the Commonwealth Games, the Queen's Baton Relay will

start an epic adventure along the Commonwealth. The tradition began in

1958 when Roger Bannister left the gates of the palace carrying the

very first baton containing a message from the Queen. Back then

the baton was relayed from London to Cardiff and this time it is truly

international. When I cycled around the world are covered 18,000 miles.

The baton, as it connects all the Commonwealth nations and

territories, will clock up a staggering 118,000 miles in 288

days, the equivalent of five times around the equator. After its first

stop in India, it will travel to Asia, before heading to Oceania.

Several island hops later, and after a trip to 2018 hosts Australia, the

baton will travel to 18 countries and two kingdoms in Africa. By Fabry

it will reach South America before finally returning to Europe. -- by

February. And by the opening ceremony, it will have travelled to

all other nations in the Commonwealth, uniting a community of

2 billion people from its largest state to its smallest island. The

Queen's Baton Relay will touch the lives of many around the world,

extending an invite to the Commonwealth, including newcomers

like Rwanda, who will be sending competitors to the Games for the

very first time. The journey will finish in Scotland where it will

relay for 14 days before the Queen's message will finally be

revealed at Celtic Park at the opening ceremony. Promoting sports,

diversity and peace, that one baton travelling nation to nation invites

the entire Commonwealth to Glasgow 2014.

It is a journey and a half and Mark will be following at every step of

the way. Following the baton right now, you can see in The Mall, the

flag-bearers leaving the palace forecourt. And Clyde, you will see a

lot more of him. That is Beth Gilmore holding the baton right

now. She won a blue Peter competition to design the mascot for

the 2014 Games. And that is her creation, Clyde The Thistle, who was

introduced to the public for the first time a year ago. A lovely

story for her because she is a sports woman herself and she has met

all kinds of sporting heroes since Clyde was made, the Duchess of

Cambridge being one. Not a sporting hero, of course, but she met Clyde.

And Rebecca Adlington, Tom Daley, Sir Chris Hoy as well. Polite, we

did not know if he could be trusted with the baton or not but clearly he

can! -- Clyde. You have come straight from the palace forecourt.

How exciting was it for you? Very exciting. We gave Clyde to Prince

George as a birthday present, well, a smaller version, and it was well

received. It was great to see Allan Wells and Chris Hoy. It really feels

like the Games are very close now. The excitement is building. You have

been planning this for years but now the time will whizz by. I was in Sri

Lanka when we won the Games in 2007, so six years, but now it feels like

it is Games on. We saw many athletes hoping to compete next year. There

is nothing like the roar of the home crowd, and Sir Chris Hoy were saying

earlier. And these are the only Games where you can compete Team

Scotland, England, Wales, Jersey, Guernsey. It is the only time

Scotland can compete as a nation and so it is really important. We have

some expertise on how to win medals with Sir Chris Hoy coaching the

team. And home support counts for a huge amount. We saw that at the

Olympics last year and we will see the same thing in Scotland next

year. That will carry us forward. There are 70 countries across the

Commonwealth and all of them will be doing their best. All of them will

be very welcome in Scotland. David, the baton is on its way. Are you

ready? Absolutely. We are very excited. It is a great moment for

ready? Absolutely. We are very us. The show is on the road now. We

are deep into our planning. All of our competition venues are up and

running. The teams that have come on board our world-class and things are

open to the public now with some fantastic sporting opportunities.

The one that is left is Hampden Park. We are transforming it from

the National Stadium for football and concerts into a fully fledged,

certified track and field field of play, which is so exciting. We have

some exciting competition coming there next summer. No easy task. You

literally have to raise the track by two metres, don't you? 1.9 metres.

Thank you very much for joining me. two metres, don't you? 1.9 metres.

You are going to join those guests walking now. The dignitaries that

were there this morning with Gabby Logan leading the way down The Mall.

There is an official function. I will borrow Sir Chris Hoy's

bicycle! I did not see it this morning. Interesting to see him

walking rather than in the saddle. We asked if you was going to run and

he said he was not very good at that and would be walking. There is an

official celebration taking place at Marlborough House very shortly.

Thank you very much for joining me this morning and good luck with the

Games. What an event it will be. It seems a long way off right now but

the baton does have a very long way to travel before it gets there.

Celtic Park in Glasgow is the location for the opening ceremony

and Chris MacLachlan is there now, our BBC Commonwealth Games reporter.

Good morning from one of the most iconic stadiums in the country,

Celtic Park. It is quiet and empty at the moment

but by July 23 this place will be absolutely rocking. Let me show you

how fast this place is. It is a massive arena in the East End of

Glasgow. It lends itself to a fabulous atmosphere. By next summer,

the pitch will be completely gone and in its place there will be a

massive platform on which the opening and closing ceremonies will

be held. The details of the ceremonies are closely guarded at

the moment but we are told to expect something special. In just over nine

months, the baton will be back from its travels around the Commonwealth,

back to Scotland to kick-start the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We have

been having a look at what we can expect in Glasgow and having a look

at some of the famous names that it is hoped will be taking part.

Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city. In 2014 it will be the home of the 20th

Commonwealth Games. From the opening ceremony at Celtic Park, the Rugby

sevens at Ibrox Stadium and the athletics and closing ceremony at

Hampden Park, Glasgow will make the best use of the old but combine it

with the new. Venues rebuilt, revamped and rejuvenated with the

Games in mind. This is Scotland's National Stadium, the home of

Scottish football, Hampden Park. The next year the famous crowd will

welcome some of the true greats of track and field such as Usain Bolt,

Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah and Sally Pearson, as well as home-grown

Scottish talents like Eilish McColgan and Eilidh Child. Sir Chris

Hoy Velodrome is the jewel in the crown. It has been open a year and

it is already officially the world's busiest velodrome. He will

not be competing here himself. Ed Clancy and Becky James are all

desperate to get their wheels on this very steep sided and very fast

track. Elsewhere in the city, Mark Cavendish, the Bradley Wiggins and

David Miller hoped to race on the roads. Tom Daley will make a splash

at the Commonwealth swimming pool. Louis Smith in gymnastics will

compete at the brand-new hydro arena that opened last week. There has

been unprecedented demand for tickets. 50,000 people stepped

forward to become one of the 15,000 volunteers. And next July, 4500

athletes from 70 nations around the globe will make their way to this

city, with an estimated 1 billion people glued to their television

sets during the 20th Commonwealth Games. Glasgow is gearing up to be

the centre of attention next summer, and no matter what the weather

throws at us, this great city will put on a great show. Yes, plenty for

the spectators and athletes alike to look forward to.

And talking of athletes, as if by magic I am joined by our squash

player. Have you dared to dream what it will be like when you walk out

here? Yes, I have been to two Commonwealth Games and last month

they found out that I had qualified for Glasgow 2014. When we walked out

here it will be fantastic. The noise will be incredible, a lifetime

experience. Scottish people can certainly make a noise! It will be

quite a party. Yes, especially at the closing ceremony. You are

veteran of two previous Games. Have you noticed a difference in the

build-up because it is our home Games? Yes, even more than the

Olympics. The run-up to the Games has been better in terms of media

exposure and athletes. A lot of the sports getting lots of coverage

which means that hopefully there will be more people in Scotland

taking up different sports and trying new hobbies. It would be

remiss of me not to mention your medal chances. Are you hoping to

medal? I would not be here if I was not. I'll lost out in the

quarterfinals in India, so I am hoping to do better. My partner was

ranked 33 in the world last month, serve as a couple we have had some

good results and we are hoping for a medal. Don't be full by how quiet it

is in Glasgow because it will look and sound very different come July

next year. you can see them going in the door there. Marlborough House,

which used to be a royal palace. The Queen gave it to the British

Government for the use of the Commonwealth in the 1950s, and it

has been the Commonwealth Secretariat for decades now. It is

the headquarters of the Commonwealth, effectively. There is

an official function taking place there, and my colleague Andrew

Cotter is there, with some of the athletes and those taking part. Over

to you. Thank you very much. A very pleasant actor here at Mulberry

house, and Pipes and Drums of the royal Scottish regiment have doing

their thing. -- Marlborough House. I am here some of them. Caitlin

McClatchey, how was that, it must've been quite an experience, carrying

the baton down The Mall? Yes, it was an amazing experience, it was such

an honour to be asked. It was incredible. I was probably more

nervous for that than I am Formica petitions. Allan Wells, you have

obviously carried the baton before, back in 1996, so how does this one

compare? Less fit, but just as proud, and it was nice to meet the

Queen. She said a few words to me. I think the occasion is fantastic for

Glasgow. For me, it is a very proud situation. The build-up to this

Commonwealth Games seems to be the build-up to 1986 was very different,

so how do you think this one might compare to Edinburgh? I do not think

there will be any comparison. As we know, there was a boycott in 1986.

This one will be bigger, no doubt. Everything has been good, all of the

background sounds have been good, as we can here at the moment! But

everybody is behind us, especially with 2012, I think the Scottish

public will be absolutely up for it. Beth Gilmour, I do not know what you

are more proud about, standing next to your creation, or carrying the

baton. Yes, it is a great thing to be part of. You designed Clyde

through Blue Peter - when you were drawing it on the paper, did you

imagine you might be standing next to him, is this the way you

envisaged him? It is exactly like how I thought it would be. I never

thought it would be real, but it is exactly how I thought it would look.

It is going to be amazing, isn't it? It is just good to know that I

am a part of this, because it is such a big thing. It is an amazing

opportunity. I have got to do so much. As I was told, never work with

children, animals or big, stuffed mascots, but Clyde, what are you

looking forward to at the games? The rowing, the athletics... ?

Excellent! Thank you very much very much. All of them looking forward to

the Games, and all of them playing their part here today. I am now

joined from outside Buckingham Palace by another famous athletes,

James Cracknell. You are our Commonwealth Games England

Ambassador, so what does that mean? It is a very grand title. I will be

talking to the athletes, because there will be global names, like

Usain Bolt, and then there will be people who can walk through their

town, and not be known, competing at the same event. It is for those

ones, who have not been in the situation before, a case of not

getting overwhelmed, and making sure they can reproduce their

performances which got them selected in the first place. What does it

mean to an athlete to compete at a Commonwealth Games? For some sports,

whether it is badminton or squash, it is the best in the world, or

happens to be in the Commonwealth countries. But it is a huge,

multisport artform, unlike your own World Championships, in this

situation, you are thrust into a multisport event, with huge opening

ceremonies and closing ceremonies, multisport event, with huge opening

and it is important to learn about performing on that pressurised

stage. You never got to compete at a Commonwealth Games, did you? No,

rowing is bad on two counts, firstly, not many cities have lakes

big enough, and secondly, it is not one of the core sports. It was

actually in Edinburgh in 1986, and I had just taken up rowing, and Steve

Redgrave won three gold medals. You have to tell people, it is not just

like rowing on a boat you can hire in a park. But that gave me the

reason to carry on, to think, there is somewhere I can progress to in

this sport, and that it is what it will be like for lots of kids

watching this time around as well. There is a place you can get to,

aside from the Olympics, which can lead to something. And unlike the

Olympics, there will be no Team GB, it is England, Scotland, Guernsey,

Jersey, everybody competing for themselves. Mark Cavendish competes

for the Isle of Man. It is very different. My brother-in-law

competed in Manchester for England in swimming. You can get a bit

closer to the action than India limpets, -- van in the Olympics, it

just feels a bit more open, in a way. The Queen once described the

Commonwealth as an extraordinary cultural tapestry of 2 billion

people, living in the unique gathering of Nations. Ever since she

came to the throne, it has occupied a special place in the heart of the

Queen, as Nicholas Witchell explains. The charter I will sign

today will light the part of all of those involved in the work of the

Commonwealth, and of those who follow in our footsteps... It is an

organisation which matters deeply to her, and her position as head of the

Commonwealth has given her much more than a purely symbolic role in

international affairs. By the time the Queen came to the throne in

1952, the British Empire was fading into history. In its place was an

1952, the British Empire was fading association of nations which

initially had been called the British Commonwealth. Then it was

called simply the Commonwealth. Although the title is not

hereditary, the Queen was invited to follow her father and become head of

the Commonwealth. It was a task she took two with characteristic it

meant. I have vivid memories of my visits, during my father's lifetime,

to Commonwealth Parliaments overseas, and I am looking forward

with pleasure to seeing others during my forthcoming journey. Her

journeys to the different countries of the Commonwealth meant that the

Queen came to know many of their leaders as friends, and at moments

of difficulty, her influence could be decisive. You have had a very

busy day, haven't you? At no time was this more important than in the

late 1970s and 1980s, when the Commonwealth was divided over issues

such as Rhodesia and then apartheid regime in South Africa. The Queen

encouraged readers to keep talking. You see, you are the same generation

as my mother, and there is something extraordinary about this

generation... It was a moment of real pleasure for her to be able to

visit South Africa in 1995, to be welcomed by its first black

president, Nelson Mandela. I think welcomed by its first black

she has been a great stabilising factor, which has helped us to

cement the bones between the various members of the Commonwealth. And I

would also venture to say that this sensitivity is appreciated beyond

the bounds of the Commonwealth. For more than 60 years, the Queen has

toured the nations of the Commonwealth. No head of state in

history has been more widely travelled. This was Australia back

in 1954, when it is estimated that one third of the population of

Australia turned out in person to see her. Her last visit there was in

2011, when she was 85, as committed as ever to an association of

countries from every continent, bar Antarctica, some of which have

retained her as head of state, many of which have become republics, all

of which come together for events like the Commonwealth Games, in the

belief that they promote greater understanding and tolerance between

different peoples. Nicholas Witchell with that report.

Let's go straight back to Marlborough House, and to Andrew

Cotter, who has got a very important person to talk to, the people who

were behind the Bristol... Thank you very much. The strains of the Pipes

and Drums just moving away now. They have just left the reception. With

us now we have got Izzie Conway, one of the volunteers, who was born in

the shadow of Celtic Park, and Julia McAvoy as well. That is to end of

Glasgow, it is going to be effected positively, isn't it? Yes, the area

is totally transformed, but the heart and soul of the East End of

Glasgow, Parkhead, is still alive and kicking. You were instrumental

in choosing some of the volunteers, you are one of the chief volunteers,

and we know they are going to be called Clydesiders. The Olympic

James thrived on the stand above its Gamesmakers, and the Commonwealth

Games has to be the same. Absolutely. We have interviewed

25,000 people, who will be Clydesiders during the games. What

we are going to bring is a welcome, with the heart and soul that Glasgow

has a of the friendly city. We were talking about this just a moment

ago, because you are instrumental in promoting parasport. The crucial

thing is that the parasport plumber will be happening at the same time?

Yes, they are going to be integrated will be happening at the same time?

into the same medal table as well. There will be long ball, cycling,

athletics, powerlifting and cycling. We are looking forward to all of

those sports, taking part at the same time as the other sports. Both

of you, thank you very much. So, we will leave the baton, and all

the invited tests at Marlborough House, where they will be enjoying

that private function with the baton, which will be travelling back

to Glasgow overnight, before tomorrow, it sets off on its very,

very long journey around the world. That is all from this BBC news

special on the Queen's Baton Relay Launch. Over the next 288 days, it

will cross every continent, it will visit every nation and territory in

the Commonwealth, before it arrives in Glasgow for the start of the 20th

Commonwealth Games. We hope you have enjoyed the programme this morning.

We will leave you with some of the memorable images from this morning.