Queen's Baton Relay: Welcome to… Maldives

As a result of the current political situation in the Maldives, the Queen's Baton Relay will only spend two hours in the country before moving on to Singapore. Originally, the baton was to spend two days in the Maldives. For all the latest on the situation visit the BBC News Asia section.

The collection of nearly 1200 islands known as the Maldives will be the fifth stop on the journey of the Queen's Baton Relay around the Commonwealth.

Since 1986, the Maldives have competed at every Commonwealth Games but have yet to win a medal.

At the Olympics in London, the country sent five athletes - two sprinters, two swimmers and a badminton player - to the Games.

The BBC country profile page for the Indian Ocean nation gives more information about life on the islands.

You can follow Mark Beaumont's journey around the Commonwealth on Twitter @BBCMarkBeaumont, external or on our Facebook page., external