The Queens Baton Relay is schedule to take off on Friday January 3 in Accra as part of the build up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July next year.

The Commonwealth Games (formerly the British Empire Games 1930-1954), British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954-1970), and British Commonwealth Games (1970-1978) is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations.

The event was first held in 1930 and has taken place every four years ever since (except 1942 and 1946 which were cancelled). The games are described as the third largest multi-sport event in the world, after the Olympic Games and the Asian Games.

The games are overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which also controls the sporting programme and selects the host cities. A host city is selected for each edition and 18 cities in seven countries have hosted the event so far.

In addition to the Olympic sports, other games played at the Commonwealth games also include lawn bowls and netball. Only six teams have attended every Commonwealth Games: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales. Australia has been the highest achieving team for eleven games, England for seven, and Canada for one.

Although there are 53 members of the Commonwealth of Nations, 71 teams participate in the Commonwealth Games as a number of British overseas territories, Crown dependencies, states compete under their own flag. The four Home Nations of the United Kingdom—England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—also send separate teams.

Iconic Ghanaian sports Stars who have held high the flag of Ghana at the games in the past including the legendary Azumah Nelson would take part in the event through some principal streets in Accra as part of the excitement organizers want to generate within participating countries

Chef De Mission of team Ghana, Ben Nunoo- Mensah told JOYSports these are exciting times for the Games and is already looking forward to the event.

“We are going to have the crème de la crème of sporting and business icons take part in the event and for us, it's our own way of letting the Ghanaian public know what a fantastic event these games are. It has been a massive platform to unearth Ghanaian sports talents like Azumah Nelson and Majeti Fetrie and we are excited about the prospects of our medal hopefuls come next year.

Sports Minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Commodore(rtd) Steve Obimpeh and GOC Vice President Dr Deborah Cubagee were all present to grace the occasion.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games, officially the XX Commonwealth Games, will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom over 11 days of competition from 23 July to 3 August 2014.