Samoa Celebrates The 2014 Commonwealth Games By Welcoming The Queen's Baton Relay On 22 November 2013

  

On 22 November 2013 Samoa will be welcoming the Queen’s Baton Relay as part of the prelude to the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow in 2014. The relay is a much loved tradition of the Commonwealth Games and symbolises the coming together of all Commonwealth nations and territories in preparation for the four-yearly festival of sport and culture.

Samoa made its Commonwealth Games debut in 1974 and has only missed one since, winning medals in both boxing and weightlifting. To celebrate the arrival of the Queen’s Baton, Samoa will be showcasing the destination’s eclectic mix of art, culture, tradition, gastronomy and sport that constitutes the Fa’a Samoa – the Samoan way of life.

Samoa is fast becoming the sports capital of the South Pacific. Rugby is almost a second religion for Samoans and with traditional sports such as Kilikiti – Samoan cricket – and a variety of other sporting activities such as game fishing tournaments, fautasi long boat racing, the Samoa Half-Iron long distance triathlon and the Samoa Swim Series.

Celebrations will also involve a feast, known as an umu, cooked the traditional Samoan way in an earth oven heated with hot stones. The food is prepared and placed amongst the hot stones and covered with banana leaves to seal in the heat. Visitors are advised to try the delicacies on the Samoan menu including palusami (young taro leaves baked in coconut cream) and oka, (raw fish in coconut cream). 

Over a period of 288 days the baton will visit 70 nations and territories, cover 190,000 kilometres and involve a third of the world's population, making it the world's most engaging relay.

On 9 October 2013 the Queen's Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace, at a ceremony where Her Majesty The Queen placed Her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and will conclude its journey at the Games opening ceremony in Glasgow on 23 July 2014. For more information visit www.glasgow2014.com.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact:

Samoa Tourism Authority

Anna Wolstenholme

Tel: +44 208 877 4511

E-mail: anna@representationplus.co.uk

Visit: www.samoa.travel

Notes to editors:

Samoa: The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific

The islands of Samoa - The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific - are the true heart of Polynesia and Samoa is one of the first places in the world to see the sunrise. Ten islands of stunning wild beauty, Samoa - or Independent Samoa as it is now known so as to avoid confusion with American Samoa, is paradise waiting to be explored. From powder soft beaches, to warm tropical seas, colourful coral reefs alive with marine life. The rugged, lush interiors reveal endless wildlife, waterfalls and hiking trails.

Air New Zealand operates daily flights via Los Angeles and Auckland (except Sundays). Auckland to Samoa is a short 4 hour flight time. Virgin Samoa offers direct flights from Auckland to Samoa six days a week (except Sunday) and twice a week from Sydney, plus once a week from Brisbane. Air Pacific fly direct from Fiji and once a week from Honolulu in Hawaii. The main entry point into Samoa is Falelolo International Airport, 35 kms from Apia on the island of Upolu.