Confectionary giant Cadbury will be the official sponsor of the Queen’s Jubilee Baton Relay that is to be carried across the Commonwealth and UK by 5,000 runners in 2002 before being presented to HM the Queen at the Games Opening Ceremony in Manchester next year.

As well as the additional announcement that Cadbury has become an official sponsor of Team England and an official supporter of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the chocolate company has also been unveiled as one of the XVII Commonwealth Games’ official sponsors following a multi-million pound partnership with M2002, the Games’ organisers.

BBC Sport’s John Inverdale announced the news to an audience which included Manchester United and Wales footballer Ryan Giggs, Sydney medallists Jason Queally and Katharine Merry, and Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw. Giggs will also run one of the Baton Relay’s legs next year.

Frances Done, Chief Executive at M2002, commented: ‘We are grateful to Cadbury for the support and investment they are lending to the Games. This sponsorship is indicative of the strong business support building for the Games.’

Five thousand volunteer Baton Relay runners will help facilitate the Baton’s departure from Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, 11 March 2002, its journey across the Commonwealth and its 50-day tour of the UK, before it is handed to the Queen at the Games Opening Ceremony on 25 July 2002. Her Majesty will then open the Games with a speech read from a scroll that has crossed the Commonwealth carried within the baton.

For further information, contact:
Manchester 2002 Media Office
Tel: +44 (0) 161 240 2002
Fax: + 44 (0) 161 240 2004