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Rousing welcome to Queen's Baton Relay

Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Queen's baton of Commonwealth Games arrives in Bhubaneswar on Monday.—

BHUBANESWAR: The Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) for the 19th Commonwealth Games-2010 was accorded a rousing welcome with thousands of people waving at it standing on both sides of roads in the Capital City on Monday evening.

The QBR which entered the State at Jamsola Gate on Sunday traversed through Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak and Cuttack to reach Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Athletes, sports administrators and top government officials accompanied QBR to historic Barabati Stadium where cultural programmes were organised to maintain the tempo in the run-up to the games.

The relay passed through busy roads of Cuttack where enthusiastic crowd welcomed it with great deal of fervour. Five platoons of police personnel were deployed to control the crowd.

The reception at the Capital City was equally magnificent. Dancers in traditional attire piloted the QBR contingent to Kalinga Stadium here. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Prabin Bhanja Deo and Panchayati Raj Minister Prafulla Samal received the QBR.

Along with ministers, several legislators, Members of Parliament, sports dignitaries and thousands of people witnessed the relay. Commissionerate of Police had made elaborate traffic arrangement in keeping in mind the huge crowds for the event. The QBR is scheduled to make a night halt at Bhubaneswar.

On Tuesday morning, the QBR will move to Puri which will be followed by a small relay at Konark. In the evening, baton relay for the State will culminate at Rabindra Mandap here for a State reception.

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