Governor General to Officially Welcome to Canada the 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay
Governor General to Officially Welcome to Canada
the 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay
OTTAWA—Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will be the first in Canada to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay, at Rideau Hall, on Monday, April 28, 2014, at 9:30 a.m.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will make its way from Sussex Gate to Rideau Hall’s front façade with help from former Canadian Commonwealth athletes, including Chantal Petitclerc, Chef de mission of the Canadian Team in Glasgow, who will be the last to hand over the baton to the Governor General, patron of Commonwealth Games Canada. The relay will take place in the presence of hundreds of students from the National Capital Region and members of the public.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., the Governor General; Dr. Andrew Pipe, President of Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC); and Chantal Petitclerc will deliver remarks on this special occasion. Following the event, the baton will spend the next two days in the Ottawa region, before travelling to Toronto and concluding its Canadian visit in Hamilton, the birthplace of the Commonwealth Games (1930 British Empire Games).
About the Queen’s Baton Relay and the Commonwealth Games
On October 9, 2013, the Queen’s Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace at a ceremony where Her Majesty The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the baton. Over a period of 288 days, the baton will visit 70 nations and territories, and cover 190 000 kilometres. On July 23, 2014, Her Majesty The Queen will remove her message and read it aloud, officially declaring the Games open. For more information about the Queen’s Baton Relay and the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July 23 to August 3, 2014), visit www.glasgow2014.com.
About Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC)
CGC is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sports community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. For more information, visit www.commonwealthgames.ca.
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Media wishing to cover the event are asked to confirm their attendance
with the Rideau Hall Press Office, and must arrive at the Princess Anne Entrance
no later than 9:10 a.m.
Media information:
Marie-ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
Sylvie Bigras
Communications Chief
Team Canada – Glasgow 2014
613-298-1625
