Schoolchildren and young people from across Glasgow joined Glasgow 2014 partners at the Emirates Arena to celebrate the unveiling of the International Sector Route of the Queen's Baton Relay.
The baton, created especially for the Glasgow's Games, will leave Buckingham Palace on October 9, after the Queen has placed her message to the Commonwealth inside it.
It will then be carried across all 71 nations and territories taking part in the Games, covering an epic 118,060 miles (190,000km) over 248 days.
It will travel by land, sea and air, stopping first in Delhi, India, which hosted the 2010 Games.
Then it will continue on through Asia, Oceania, and Africa, North and South America and the Caribbean, before returning to Europe, the Home Nations and then Scotland.
It will spend Christmas on Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, and bring in the New Year in Sierra Leone.
The baton will average one to four days in each nation, but will spend seven days in Wales, 14 in England and 40 in Scotland, before coming to rest in Glasgow.
A film of the planned journey, narrated by Hobbit star Billy Boyd, was shown at the launch.
Mr Boyd said: "Narrating this film was a great way for me to get involved in the Glasgow 2014 Games.
"I am really excited about the Games coming to my home city next year."
The relay aims to unite the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth.
Lord Smith of Kelvin, chairman of Glasgow 2014, said: "For Scotland and Glasgow the Queen's Baton Relay creates an unparalleled chance to put both city and nation into the international spotlight."
Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, said: "By visiting every nation and territory who will send a team, the QBR is a great example of why the Commonwealth Games are known as the 'Friendly Games', and we are sure that Glasgow 2014 can be the friendliest yet."
Councillor Archie Graham, executive member for the Commonwealth Games, said: "The relay reminds us that we will soon be host to competitors and visitors from all over the world."
Michael Cavanagh, chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: "There is no better way to spread the word that the Games is coming and that we are all part of a wider Commonwealth family."
matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk
