Queen pens Commonwealth Games baton message for athletes

The Queen of the United Kingdom has written a message to the athletes of the Commonwealth to mark the start of a baton relay before the Glasgow 2014 Games around all its nations and territories, and it is at the heart of the design.

According to The Scotsman, the content of the message will remain a secret until the Queen reads it aloud at the opening ceremony of the Games at Celtic Park on July 23 next year.

The relay is a Commonwealth tradition that started in 1958, growing in size and scale with every Games, the report said.

It shares similarities with the Olympic torch relay and is designed to unite the citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace, the report added.

Glasgow 2014 is the 20th Commonwealth Games and the baton relay route is the biggest so far, the report further said.

The Queen will help set it on its way at the public launch ceremony at Buckingham Palace, according to the report.

Athletes and guests including two of Scotland's greatest sportsmen, Allan Wells and Sir Chris Hoy, will join her, the report mentioned.