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Commonwealth Games baton returns to British Isles Commonwealth Games baton returns to British Isles
(35 minutes later)
The Commonwealth Games baton is greeted by hundreds of young athletes as it arrives in St Aubin, Jersey. The Commonwealth Games baton was greeted by hundreds of young athletes as it returned to the British Isles.
The baton contains a message from the Queen which is due to be revealed at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Games in Glasgow on Wednesday 23 July.The baton contains a message from the Queen which is due to be revealed at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Games in Glasgow on Wednesday 23 July.
Over the past seven months it has travelled to 63 Commonwealth nations and territories.Over the past seven months it has travelled to 63 Commonwealth nations and territories.
After travelling by boat from St Helier it was carried ashore by Olympic and Commonwealth medallist Tom Daley. It was carried ashore at St Aubin's Bay, Jersey, by Olympic and Commonwealth medallist Tom Daley.
The diver from Plymouth, who is an Olympic and Commonwealth medallist, was joined by Zane Duquemin - a 23-year-old shot-putter from Jersey who is the current British indoor champion.The diver from Plymouth, who is an Olympic and Commonwealth medallist, was joined by Zane Duquemin - a 23-year-old shot-putter from Jersey who is the current British indoor champion.
The pair carried the Queen's Baton up the beach at 17:45 BST, where hundreds of young athletes welcomed them in a public ceremony. After travelling by boat from St Helier the pair carried the Queen's Baton up the beach at 17:45 BST, where hundreds of young athletes welcomed them in a public ceremony.
Tom Daley said Jersey was a beautiful place and he would love to return to the island to look around properly. Tom Daley described Jersey as a beautiful place and said he would love to return to the island to look around properly.
He said: "I haven't seen a lot of Jersey but what I have seen, it is an amazing place. It is like going on holiday.He said: "I haven't seen a lot of Jersey but what I have seen, it is an amazing place. It is like going on holiday.
"Carrying the baton was a massive responsibility and a massive honour to carry it on to the British Isles."Carrying the baton was a massive responsibility and a massive honour to carry it on to the British Isles.
"Ten years ago when I signed up to dive, if someone had said I would be doing this I would have said 'yeah right'."Ten years ago when I signed up to dive, if someone had said I would be doing this I would have said 'yeah right'.
"Diving is number one, that is what I love doing and my aim is to train hard and retain my Commonwealth Games title.""Diving is number one, that is what I love doing and my aim is to train hard and retain my Commonwealth Games title."
Two young Jersey swimmers, Fran Stubbings and Robbie Jones, both aged 12, carried the baton around St Aubin.Two young Jersey swimmers, Fran Stubbings and Robbie Jones, both aged 12, carried the baton around St Aubin.
Miss Stubbings said: "[We] were the youngest going to nationals this season so far, so we got picked to do it.Miss Stubbings said: "[We] were the youngest going to nationals this season so far, so we got picked to do it.
"We will be meeting him at the end of St Aubin's Bay, he will come up on the boat and we will walk with it, passing it to each other as we walk around.""We will be meeting him at the end of St Aubin's Bay, he will come up on the boat and we will walk with it, passing it to each other as we walk around."
Lord Smith of Kelvin, chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee, said the welcome given to the baton was incredible.Lord Smith of Kelvin, chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee, said the welcome given to the baton was incredible.
"The Queen's Baton Relay has returned to the British Isles and what a welcome it has received," he said."The Queen's Baton Relay has returned to the British Isles and what a welcome it has received," he said.
Medal winning controllerMedal winning controller
The baton arrived in the island on a flight from Gibraltar at 15:56 BST. One of the air traffic controllers waving the flight in was former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Simon Militis.The baton arrived in the island on a flight from Gibraltar at 15:56 BST. One of the air traffic controllers waving the flight in was former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Simon Militis.
He won the medal representing England in the 200m backstroke in the 2002 games in Manchester.He won the medal representing England in the 200m backstroke in the 2002 games in Manchester.
It arrived to a fanfare performed by a brass band as it was carried off the plane and handed over to the Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey.It arrived to a fanfare performed by a brass band as it was carried off the plane and handed over to the Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey.
Contained within the top of the baton are granite gemstones, each place it has visited has been given one as a memento of the relay.Contained within the top of the baton are granite gemstones, each place it has visited has been given one as a memento of the relay.
Alan Cross, from the Jersey Commonwealth Games Association, said the island would treasure it.Alan Cross, from the Jersey Commonwealth Games Association, said the island would treasure it.
By the end of the relay, which has been the curtain raiser for the Commonwealth Games since 1958, the baton will have travelled more than 118,000 miles (190,000km) in a journey that will have taken 288 days.By the end of the relay, which has been the curtain raiser for the Commonwealth Games since 1958, the baton will have travelled more than 118,000 miles (190,000km) in a journey that will have taken 288 days.
Mr Cross said: "It is good for the island, it puts us on the map and we are always keen to do that.Mr Cross said: "It is good for the island, it puts us on the map and we are always keen to do that.
"It is also good for the sporting community on the island and our games association."It is also good for the sporting community on the island and our games association.
"It provides an excellent motivation to move towards the games, especially for the youngsters with Tom Daley coming over. He is an inspirational character.""It provides an excellent motivation to move towards the games, especially for the youngsters with Tom Daley coming over. He is an inspirational character."
Alan Donald, from Ports of Jersey, was involved in the organisation of the baton's arrival, which he described as "very exciting, but logistically complex".Alan Donald, from Ports of Jersey, was involved in the organisation of the baton's arrival, which he described as "very exciting, but logistically complex".
"It's a great community event and importantly showcases the skills and talents of our local sportsmen and women," he said."It's a great community event and importantly showcases the skills and talents of our local sportsmen and women," he said.
The baton will be taken around the island for two days.The baton will be taken around the island for two days.
On Tuesday the baton will travel by boat to Guernsey and will be taken on a tour of schools the following day.On Tuesday the baton will travel by boat to Guernsey and will be taken on a tour of schools the following day.
It will be taken to the other main Channel Islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm on Thursday.It will be taken to the other main Channel Islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm on Thursday.
It then travels to the Isle of Man and onto Northern Ireland, Wales and England before ending its journey with a 40-day tour of Scotland.It then travels to the Isle of Man and onto Northern Ireland, Wales and England before ending its journey with a 40-day tour of Scotland.