LONDON, Dec 6: The Commonwealth Games baton relay, the equivalent of the Olympic torch relay, will travel a record 56,000 kms through 21 countries en route to Manchester.

The relay has also been renamed the Queen’s Jubilee Baton Relay as part of next year’s celebrations marking 50 years since the accession to the throne of Britain’s Queen’s Elizabeth.

“The baton carries the Queen’s message to all Commonwealth territories and calls on the Commonwealth’s best athletes to come together in world class competition in Manchester next July,” chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation Michael Fennell said on Wednesday.

For the first time, the relay will travel to six regions of the world — Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Oceania and Asia.—Reuters