Queen’s Baton takes its leave of Bermuda
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay has completed its visit to Bermuda, the 62nd destination out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories it will be visiting.
The Baton arrived on Sunday and was officially welcomed by Bermuda Olympic Association president Peter Dunne before spending two days touring the country.
During its time in Bermuda, the Queen’s Baton Relay and the Bermuda Olympic Association took part in numerous activities and festivities, including a special visit to the Towne of St George, where Paula Wight and Bermuda Pilot Gig Club had the honour of being the first baton-bearer in Bermuda.
The Baton also paid a visit to Government House to honour Rena Lalgie, the Governor.
In the western end of the island, the Queen’s Baton Relay celebrated Paget Primary, WindReach, Warwick Academy, Heron Bay, West End Primary and a few of our frontline workers during the pandemic.
Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay has been a tradition for the Commonwealth Games. The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay started at Buckingham Palace on October 7 2021, when the Queen placed her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton.
Donna Raynor, Bermuda’s chef de mission for the Commonwealth Games, said: “I am filled with pride that Bermuda had the opportunity to host the Queen’s Baton Relay and be part of this momentous journey. Not only did it give us the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Bermuda, but it represents the coming-together of communities across the whole of the Commonwealth.”
Bermuda Olympic Association secretary-general Branwen Smith-King said: “We have relished the opportunity to commemorate our community’s part in the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay. Everyone here has had a great time taking part in all the activities and supporting our local champions, as they represent Bermuda as baton-bearers.”
It will now travel to Canada to continue in its tradition of touring the Commonwealth in the build-up to Birmingham 2022.
The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres. For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will complete its journey at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2022. This is a traditional and fundamental part of the Games and the Opening Ceremony, as the final baton-bearer will pass the Baton back to The Queen. Her message to the Commonwealth will then be removed from the Baton and read aloud, marking the official start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
For further information about the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay visit:
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