The Queen?s Baton arrived in Bermuda last night from the British Virgin Islands and will begin its trip around the Island this morning, passing through the hands of dignitaries and sports stars in equal measure.

Pan-Am medallists Latroya Darrell and Arantxa King will do the honours in the presence of Governor Sir John Vereker at Government House before the Baton gets driven up to St. George?s to be handed on to the gymnasts.

Casey Lopes and Kalena Astwood, who competed in the last Commonwealth Games in Manchester three years ago, will be on hand as will Hannah King, Kaisey Griffith and Samantha Astwood ? all hoping to compete in Melbourne next year.

Ryanne Bardgett and Riann Ming, who may get a showing in the Delhi Games in 2010 are also helping take the ultra-modern Baton around St. George?s as part of the longest and most inclusive relay in history.

Tina Williams, coach of the gymnastic team, is delighted her girls are going to get a chance to join in the festivities ? a just reward for their multiple medal-winning performance at the Island Games in Shetland last month.

?It will be nice for the girls to be involved in something like this,? said the proud coach, who has been putting the girls through their paces at their St. David?s training base all summer long.

?I?m not sure why they chose us, but maybe it was reward for their wonderful performances in the Island Games.?

Williams is confident that Bermuda will be able to field a full contingent of five competitors in the Games Down Under, although they are still yet to qualify.

A qualifying event, overseen by the Bermuda Olympic Association, is planned in the coming weeks where the girls will get an opportunity to attain the scores needed to book them on a Melbourne-bound flight come next March.

?We have some good, strong, dedicated gymnasts here,? she added.

?I?d like to think we can get all five places filled. It would be wonderful to take a full contingent.?

The Baton relay continues tomorrow in Hamilton where the Premier Alex Scott will also be involved in the events ahead of a reception in the evening which will see a reunion of more than 100 Commonwealth competitors from the past 75 years of competition.

The Baton will be formally handed back to regional Commonwealth Games Federation representative and BOA president John Hoskins at the Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday night before heading off to the Falkland Islands.

By the time it reaches Melbourne it will have visited all 71 Commonwealth nations and travelled more than 180,000 kms since leaving Buckingham Palace with the Queen?s message.