Queen's Baton reaches Games Village

Passing through all nations and territories of the Commonwealth for 240 days and another 100 days through the length and breadth of India, the Queen's Baton has finally reached the Games Village on October 2, 2010.



Indian hockey captain Rajpal Singh holds the Queen's Baton as it arrived at the Games Village.



The Queen's Baton had set out on its journey on 29 October 2009 from the Buckingham Palace. It was one of the longest Baton Relays ever.

Seen here in the pic are Delhi Commonwealth Games Village Mayor Dalbir Singh, Joint Director SPS Dhillon and an Indian athlete posing with the Queen's Baton at the Commonwealth Games Village.



The Queen's Baton had arrived in Delhi on September 30, 2010 after travelling across all 71 nations and territories of the former British empire.





Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, applauds as New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna pose with the Queen's baton at the organizing committee headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday, September 30, 2010.





Suresh Kalmadi and the Games mascot Shera, drive with the Queen's baton at the India Gate in New Delhi. In the background can be seen the Rashtrapati Bhavan.





Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi looks on as children pose with Olympic silver medalist shooter Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, as they hold the Queen's baton at the India Gate in New Delhi.





Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi looks on as children pose with Olympic silver medalist shooter Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, as they hold the Queen's baton at the India Gate in New Delhi.





The Organising Committee had been under lot of pressure for not getting the work done on time but the mood has swung in the recent days as the city gets ready for the Commonwealth Games.





The Queen's Baton is an equivalent of the Olympic torch and carries a message from the the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II.



School children shake hands with Commonwealth Games mascot Shera as the the Queen's baton relay arrives in New Delhi.




Members of the Scottish team cheer with Shera during the flag hoisting ceremony at the Games village in Delhi on September 27, 2010.

The contingent of Scotland for the Games arrived on September.



Welsh athlete Ella Rafferty strikes a pose with Indian performers after the flag hoisting ceremony of team Wales at the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi.

Members of Australian synchronized swimming team strike a pose for a photographer at the Commonwealth games village in New Delhi.



Australian hockey captain Madonna Blyth and teammates Casey Eastham and Kate Hollywood pose with their sticks at the 2010 Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi.



Canada's Commonwealth Games team members pose for media at the Games village in New Delhi.




Members of the Cook Islands team watch the flag hoisting ceremony along with Shera in the Games Village in New Delhi.




A group of students perform as cultural events were kick started in the Games Village in New Delhi.



Members of South African support staff blow through vuvuzelas during the flag hoisting ceremony at the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi.




A view of the practice arena for weightlifters in the Games Village in New Delhi.

The entire village is full of world class facilities for athletes to prepare for their respective disciples.



A member of the Indian weightlifting team practices at the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi.




A view of a bedroom of an apartment in the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi. The Games Village was under heavy scrutiny and criticism after parts of it were deemed uninhabitable by many vising delegates.

Things though have changed now and all the teams are happy with the world class facilities available at the Village.