Opening Traditions of Commonwealth Games

The governing body of the Commonwealth games is known as the Commonwealth Games Federation or the CGF. The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games is a prestigious and important event. The Queens Baton Relay is part of the Opening Traditions of Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Chairperson of the Commonwealth. The presiding head of current time is Queen Elizabet II, queen of England. The relay starts from the Buckingham Palace grounds and forms a part of Commonwealth day celebrations of London. The Baton is handed to the first relay runner by Her Majesty. At the end of the relay the last runner hands over the baton to the Queen once again. A representative of the queen at times accepts the baton. The next opening custom of the Commonwealth games is the reading of the message on the baton. This is followed by an official declaration of opening of the Commonwealth Game of the year. After this opening custom of the Commonwealth Games the game officially begins. The reading marks the end of the Opening Traditions of Commonwealth Games and the beginning of this prestigious Sport event.

The relay is started by the nation who held the last Commonwealth Games. That is the previous host nation. The final relay runner of the Queens baton relay is the current host nation.
The inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth Games is much like the opening of the Olympic Games. The only difference lies in the fact that in the latter case the baton is replaced with a torch. The Opening Traditions of Commonwealth Games has another interesting and important chapter associated with it. This opening tradition in the Commonwealth Games involves the taking of the Athletes Pledge. This Athlete Oath is taken at the commencement of each Commonwealth Game. The Oath goes as follows:
“ We declare that we will take part in the Commonwealth Games of (year of the game is mentioned) in the spirit of true sportsmanship, recognizing the rules which govern them and desirous of participating in them for the honor of our Commonwealth and for the glory of sport.”
The Opening Traditions of Commonwealth Games has undergone various changes over the years. In 1930 the parade of the Commonwealth nations was lead by one flag bearer carrying the Union Flag. This tradition continued for nearly a decade. After which the present tradition of the Queens Baton relay has been followed since 1958.
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