Picture of Queen’s Baton in Falkland Islands at Southernmost Point of Relay

17 February 2010 Commonwealth baton pictured with penguins in the Falkland Islands The Queen’s Baton Relay has reached the southernmost point of it’s journey to the Commonwealth Games – the Falkland Islands. At a latitude of approximately 50º south, the baton is now the closest it will get to the south pole (approx. 2,500 miles away) and it is the same distance south of the equator as London is north. On Monday 15 February, the Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi arrived in the Falkland Islands, the 29th of its seventy one Commonwealth destinations. Pictures below show: • Falklands children (and penguins) posing proudly with the baton. • King penguins and chick inspect the baton. • A baton bearer looking out over the stunning Falklands landscape. • The Governor, HE Alan Huckle, meeting a baton bearer. For further information please contact Katie Liddell at Keene on 020 7839 2140 or katie@keenepa.co.uk. Photography and interviews are available on request. Notes for Editors About the Falkland Islands 1. The Falkland Islands are a United Kingdom Overseas Territory situated in the Southern Hemisphere about 350 miles east of the South American mainland. The Islands are made up of two main Islands (East and West Falkland) and some 700 smaller Islands, covering an area half the size of Wales. The capital Stanley is located on East Falkland. 2. Over the past 28 years, the Falkland Islands have become one of the most modern and dynamic Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom. The Islands enjoy a sophisticated system of internal government and are economically self-sufficient in all areas except defence - which is estimated to be less than half of one percent of Britain's overall defence budget. 3. The Islands’ population has risen from 1,800 in 1982 to around 2,500 in 2006 (the latest Census). Nearly 96% of the population is British and 79% of the population is aged 55 years and under. The majority of young Islanders chose to return to the Islands to live and work, contributing to its thriving private and public sector. 4. Falkland Islands information is available at www.falklands.gov.fk. Information on Falklands tourism is available at www.falklandislands.com. About the Queen’s Baton Relay 1. The Queen’s Baton Relay is the traditional curtain raiser to the Commonwealth Games and has been an inclusion in the programme since Cardiff in 1958, though this is only the second time it has visited all 71 Commonwealth nations The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi commenced from Buckingham Palace on Thursday 29 October 2009, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II entrusting it to Abhinav Bindra, Indian Air Rifle Champion – the first of many thousands of Baton bearers to carry the baton around the globe. 2. The Queen’s Baton will traverse the length and breadth of the Commonwealth covering 190,000 kilometres in 340 days. Whilst spreading the message of goodwill on its way to the “Friendly Games”, the baton will spend 240 days travelling throughout Europe, Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Oceania and Asia and the last 100 days on a national tour of India. 3. The Relay will conclude in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games on 3 October 2010. During the ceremony, the final Baton bearer will hand the baton back to Her Majesty and her message will be read out, officially opening the Games. 4. For further information on the Queen’s Baton Relay visit www.thecgf.com/qbr.