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Article: Games start with the longest baton charge in history; Queen fires the gun on a 58,000 mile run round the Commonwealth.
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- March 12, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: JAMES TOZER
THE Queen yesterday began the countdown to this summer's Commonwealth Games with the start of the longest relay in history.
In a spectacular send-off, as fireworks fizzed from the roof of Buckingham Palace, she handed the Manchester Games baton to Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.
It was the star-studded start of a 58,000-mile relay around the world, through 23 Commonwealth countries, and back to the United Kingdom for the July 25 opening of the Games.
The launch, also attended by Manchester United football legends Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, was beamed live to the host ...