Bangalore, Aug 26 (IANS) Olympian Kenneth Powell and badminton legend Prakash Padukone will lead the Queen’s Baton Relay, a Commonwealth Games tradition, in Bangalore Sep 2.
The baton reaches Karnataka Sep 1 from Tamil Nadu and will pass through several parts of the state for a week before entering Goa. The baton enters Karnataka through Chikkanhalli in Chamarajanagar district bordering Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will receive the baton Sep 2 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, an indoor facility in the city centre, and hand it over to Powell and Padukone.
The relay will go through Bangalore, Hassan, Mangalore and Karwar before crossing over to Goa Sep 7, Karnataka Sports Minister Gulihatti Shekar told reporters here Thursday.
Sportspersons, legislators, film personalities and school children will join the relay led by Powell, 70, who was part of the Indian Athletic team to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and Padukone.
The state government will be spending Rs.35 lakh (Rs.3.5 million) for the week-long relay during which there will be cultural programmes in Mysore, Bangalore and Mangalore, Shekar said.
The Commonwealth Games will be held Oct 3-14 in New Delhi.
