SVG shares in Queen’s Baton Relay

A journey up the La Soufriere volcano, followed by a sojourn from the Obelisk at Dorsetshire Hill to Victoria Park, and finally a journey to Mustique in the Grenadines, were the routes chosen for this country’s participation in the Queen’s Baton Relay which took place last Sunday and Monday.{{more}}

On returning from its early morning climb up to the summit of this country’s highest mountain peak, on Sunday, the Baton was then carried from Dorsetshire Hill to the Victoria Park.

Accompanied by several members from the various national associations affiliated to the National Olympic Committee of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Lennox Adams, the first President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines chapter of the NOC, started off the carriage of the highly sensitive Baton, which is shaped like a torch.

He handed it to Junior Bacchus of the Indian Heritage Foundation, who relayed it to Romano Mc Dowald, an employee of the NOC. Then it was the turn of teacher/television anchor Paulette Williams, whose duty was to hand it over to former national netballer Thelma Foster.

Keisha Sutherland of Team Athletics SVG took it from Foster and handed it to national Under-23 netballer Mary Ann Fredericks.

Former national athlete Khalil Cato relieved Fredericks, who then gave it to another former athlete Byron Quamina.

It was then the turns of Calypsonian Kenneth Alleyne, Athletics Coach Rawlson Morgan, Fitness Trainer Woodrow Williams and Police Inspector Johnathan Nicholls in that order, as several ditties were struck up as the Baton made its way through Capital Kingstown.

President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Netball Association Godfrey Harry was next to carry the torch. He was followed by radio personality Randy Dopwell, then by former national footballer Guy Lowe.

The First Lady of Sports Gloria Ballantyne, who took it from Lowe, then gave it to current CEO of the Windwards Cricket Board of Control, Lennox John.

On reaching the Victoria Park, John presented the Baton to Elton Anderson, a participant in the 100m and 200m at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958.

Anderson expressed delight in having another chance to be part of the ceremony and gave a brief account of his Wales experience.

On Monday, the Baton went to Mustique, its 131st day of its journey, before leaving for St. Lucia on Tuesday.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the 35th stop of the Baton’s 71 Commonwealth nation tour.

The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi will conclude in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi on October 3, 2010. During the ceremony, the final Baton bearer will hand the baton back to Her Majesty, or Her representative. The message will then be removed and read aloud, officially opening the Games. (RT)