Austrade media release
17 April 2010
Local event management company Maxxam International will oversee the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in Sydney next week (19 April), having successfully organised relay events for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Sydney Olympic Games.
Maxxam International is responsible for the planning and delivery of entire Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi. By the end of its journey, the Baton will have travelled through 71 Commonwealth nations and covered 190,000 kilometres in 340 days, making this relay one of the longest relays in the history of the Games.
The Baton arrives in Australia from Canada on Sunday. On Monday 19 April, it will travel from Harris Park to Parramatta and will head to Sydney Opera House by ferry for arrival at 1.30pm and make its way along Circular Quay. It will head to Melbourne on 20 April and Brisbane on 21 April.
Maxxam President, Di Henry, will accompany the Baton to her hometown, Sydney.
“The Baton Relay is an integral and important part of the Commonwealth Games experience and it is a thrill and honour to be involved in such an uplifting community event.
“Our work covers complete project management from approval, planning, implementation and evaluation to risk management and post-event assessment,” Ms Henry said.
She added that Austrade had been extremely helpful in forging business networks across a number of international markets including China (Beijing Olympics) and Italy (Torino Winter Olympics).
“Despite all our experience, it is challenging to secure overseas business contracts and Austrade has played an important role in helping us with meetings, contacts, translations, information and general support,” she said.
Austrade’s New-Delhi-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Peter Linford, said there were significant opportunities for business growth in India beyond the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.
“India is also preparing to host major international sporting events like the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and the 2011 Formula One in New Delhi. As the pace of India’s growth increases and more Indian firms look to expand operations globally, there are new opportunities for Australia,” Mr Linford said.
“In 2008-2009, India was our fastest growing major two-way trading partner with total trade between the two nations increasing by 55 per cent to $21.7 billion,” he said.
Ashley White, Manager of Austrade's Business Club Australia program, said that Australia’s commercial interests are leveraged at major events around the world, and the Games in India also present an ideal opportunity for Australian companies to network and build business with Australia’s fourth largest export market.
“Nearly 50 Australian companies have won deals worth $61 million around the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and Business Club Australia will hold specialised industry events in India during the Games to help strengthen our business ties,” Mr White said.
The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi commenced from Buckingham Palace in London on 29 October 2009 and will end on 3 October 2010 at the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
By the time the Baton arrives in Australia on 19 April, it would have travelled to 49 countries in 172 days.
Di Henry (Maxxam International) and Ashley White (Austrade) available for interviews.
ENDS
|