The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 70 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of up to 15,000 local volunteers.

From the precision of lawn bowls to the exciting combat of wrestling and judo – from the high adrenaline of track events to the grace and elegance of gymnastics – in 2014 Glasgow will be the stage for a fantastic sports event.

Queens Baton Relay

His Royal Highness Prince Imran, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Lord Robert Smith, Chairman of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Patron of the Commonwealth Games, during the Queen’s Baton Relay Ceremony.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II launched the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay on its global journey on Wednesday 9 October 2013 in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace attended by some of Scotland’s greatest athletes, inspirational young people and senior representatives from across the Commonwealth.

Accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen placed Her message calling the athletes of the Commonwealth to next summer’s Games inside a baton specially crafted in Scotland which will now travel to the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth before being opened at the Opening Ceremony.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is a unique tradition that unites two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace and rallies 4,500 athletes from the 70 nations and territories to prepare for the Games.

The Queen’s Baton Relay and the Queen’s Baton hold special royal significance. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Patron of the Commonwealth Games.

Longines’ involvement in the Commonwealth Games dates back to 1962, when it was the timekeeper of the event in Perth (Australia).

Source: Longines