Baton Passed to Track and Field Heartland Jamaica

The Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) has entered champion Commonwealth Games nation Jamaica, 51 years after capital city Kingston hosted the 1966 Games.

A country synonymous for its track and field exploits, the Jamaican’s have their eyes firmly set on keeping their place in the top 10 on the overall medal tally when they travel down under next year to compete at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).

Having the Queen’s Baton in your community is a source of inspiration. Up and coming athletes in the Caribbean region have drawn on this inspiration over the past six weeks, as they prepare to represent their nation at the Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in the Bahamas next week.

As NAIDOC week celebrations draw to a close in Australia, the Queen’s Baton continues to interact and highlight the Commonwealth’s first nations people and their cultures, whilst also showcasing sustainability programs.

The tiny island nation of Montserrat, home to just 5,000 people, 100 times smaller than the Gold Coast, used the Baton’s visit to bring children together and teach them about the importance of protecting the ocean for a sustainable future. They were intrigued to hear how plastic collected from the ocean and waterways of the Gold Coast was repurposed to create the leading edge of the Baton.

At day 120 the GC2018 QBR is nearing the end of its time in the Caribbean, it will travel next to the Americas.

Discover where the Baton has ventured in street-level detail by zooming into the QBR’s interactive map at gc2018.com/qbr

The Commonwealth Youth Games will be held in the Bahamas from July 19-23. 1300 athletes from 70 Commonwealth Nations and Territories are taking part.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Owens

Email: sarah.owens@goldoc.com

Tel: +61 481 916 084

QBR Public Relations Officer

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics iswww.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only