QUEEN HANDING OVER BATON; RUNNERS WITH BATON ON VARIOUS RELAY STAGES TO LONDON AIRPORT; JAMAICAN ATHLETE KEITH GARDNER TAKING BATON INTO JAMAICA-BOUND AIRCRAFT.




Initials GM/V-POOL/JF/GLH



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Background: QUEEN ELIZABETH'S MESSAGE TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE EIGHTH BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES IS ON ITS WAY TO KINGSTON, JAMAICA, WHERE THE GAMES ARE TO BE HELD. THE QUEEN TODAY (TUESDAY) HANDED THE MESSAGE CONTAINED IN A SILVER BATON-TO A GROUP OF RELAY RUNNERS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

THE MESSAGE WAS CARRIED IN 12 STAGES. ON THE FIRST STAGE, IT WAS CARRIED BY THE CANADIAN ATHLETE, BRUCE KIDD. WITH HIM WERE BRITISH ATHLETES BRIAN KILBY AND BRUCE TULLOH. AT THE END OF THE FIRST LEG-IN LONDON'S KENSINGTON GARDENS--THE BATON WAS RECEIVED BY AUSTRALIA'S HIGH COMMISSIONER, SIR ALEXANDER DOWNER. HE PASSED THE BATON TO THE MAYOR OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA, ALDERMAN GEORGE FISHER, WHO IN TURN PASSED IT ON TO A TRINIDAD ATHLETE, L. CHARLES.

IT WAS A WOMAN, JOY JORDAN, WHO BROUGHT THE BATON INTO LONDON AIRPORT. SHE HANDED IT TO JAMAICA'S HIGH COMMISSIONER, MR. H. LAWRENCE LINDO. HE HANDED IT TO GARDNER, WHO TOOK IT INTO THE AIRCRAFT.

WHEN THE MESSAGE ARRIVES IN KINGSTON, IT WILL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) BEGIN A ROUND-THE-ISLAND RELAY. THE GAMES THEMSELVES ARE TO BE HELD IN KINGSTON FROM 4 TO 13 AUGUST.