The Queen's Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games touched down at Fua'amotu International Airport on May 19, making Tonga the 60th country to receive the baton since it left Buckingham Palace in London in November 2009.

A warm reception was held at the VIP section at the airport with young school children lining up to welcome the baton carried by Hon Tapasu Leung Wai, the Vice President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The baton was handed over to Hon Frederica Tuita who was the guest of honour. At the same time a delighted young schoolboy from Fua'amotu Primary School, Sione Tupou, also had the chance to hold the baton.

TASA Secretary General, and Tonga Commonwealth Games and Queen Baton Relay Liaison Officer Takitoa Taumoepeau in a welcome address said the Queen's Baton relay was an integral part of the Commonwealth Games since it began some 50 years ago.

The Queen's Baton Relay unites all 71 Commonwealth countries giving local communities and thousands of people a chance to witness first hand the spirit of friendship of the Commonwealth Games, said Takitoa.

Also present at the ceremony was the Indian High Commissioner to Tonga HE, Prof. Prabhakara Jha.

Vava'u

The Queen Baton Relay had never been conducted outside of Tongatapu this year travels to Vava'u for a day of rotation on Thursday, May 20.

It returns to Tongatapu on the same evening in preparation for the Tongatapu rotation that covers the Western, Eastern and Central districts on Friday, May 21.

In the Tongatapu rotation the Queen's Baton Relay begins at Ha'atafu with Hon Frederica as the first of the 100 runners that would be participating. The relay ends at the Treasury building in central Nuku'alofa on Friday evening.

The Queen's Baton departs Tonga on Saturday, May 22 for the Cook Islands.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games begins in New Delhi, India on October 3-14 this year.