Sunday, 20 November 2016
One of the most iconic symbols of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018), the Queen’s Baton, was this morning revealed as the Gold Coast marked 500 days to go until the Games.
The distinctive loop design will be the centerpiece of the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR), a Games tradition that celebrates the Commonwealth’s diversity, inspires community pride and excites people about the world-class festival of sports and culture to come.
Made using macadamia wood and reclaimed plastic sourced from Gold Coast waterways, the Baton’s design has been inspired by the region’s vibrant spirit, indigenous heritage and with sustainability in mind.
The Queen’s Baton carries a personal message to the athletes of the Commonwealth from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on a 388-day and 230,000km journey from Buckingham Palace to the Opening Ceremony of the Games, where the message is removed from the Baton and read aloud by Her Majesty or a representative.
The QBR has been the traditional curtain raiser to every Commonwealth Games since the Cardiff 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
On an ambitious journey to connect with a modern and diverse Commonwealth, the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) will achieve two records – it will be the longest and the most accessible relay in Commonwealth history.
The Queen’s Baton will provide thousands of people throughout the Commonwealth with the opportunity to experience the spirit of friendship for which the Commonwealth Games are renowned.
The international sector presents each region with a unique opportunity to showcase its people, heritage, culture and environment to the rest of the Commonwealth.
For the first time, the Baton will be present at the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) in Nassau, Bahamas from 19 to 23 July 2017. The CYG will provide a unique opportunity for the Baton to engage and inspire today’s youth, with 60 per cent of Commonwealth citizens less than 30-years of age.
The Relay will begin at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, 13 March 2017, when Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II will place her message to the Commonwealth into the GC2018 Baton.
From London, the Queen’s Baton will travel sequentially through Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania, spending between two and four days in each Commonwealth nation and territory.
This will give a third of the world’s population the opportunity to share a memorable experience with the Baton.
When the Queen’s Baton arrives on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, the entire Commonwealth will have been a part of the journey.
The international sector of the GC2018 Queen’s Relay is a joint initiative of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA) in each nation and territory are responsible for selecting batonbearers that inspire their community to be great.
The QBR has been the traditional curtain raiser to every Commonwealth Games since the Cardiff 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
GOLDOC, Peter Beattie AC:
"As you can see, the 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay is a complex logistical project. But one that will take our great Games to the world, building excitement and enthusiasm for the world-class athletes who will compete here in just 500 days time.
"We have a great team working through the planning to ensure all areas of this extraordinary journey are, like the Games, delivered on time and on budget.
"The Baton will return to the Gold Coast in April 2018, having been touched, admired, photographed, filmed and loved by so many people from all over the Commonwealth."
Commonwealth Games Federation President, Louise Martin CBE:
"A message from the Monarch has been read at every Games since 1930 as the Queen’s Baton Relay extends an invitation to the athletes and communities of the Commonwealth to celebrate together.
"It reinforces our shared love of sport and recognises the power of sport to transcend barriers and bring us together.
"Above all, however, it is a message from Her Majesty of hope, ambition and peace for the citizens and athletes of the Commonwealth.
"It is a truly exciting moment to share the international route of the 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay, so that communities and citizens across the Commonwealth can join the build up to the XXI Commonwealth Games."
Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk MP:
"The international sector of the Queen’s Baton Relay is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Gold Coast and Queensland to connect with the entire Commonwealth.
"It will place the Gold Coast on the global stage.
"Travelling a phenomenal 230,000 kilometres, the relay will engage with local communities, schools and athletes in some of the most exotic and remote places.
"From Sierra Leone to Jamaica, the Falkland Islands and Samoa, the Baton’s 288-day international journey will excite the world about our great Games to come."
Federal Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo:
"As the Baton shares its journey with every Commonwealth nation and territory, it will put this city, state and Australia on the global stage.
"In fact, the Queen’s Baton Relay will be the biggest single promotion Australia will see for many years to come and will shine a light on this city and the state of Queensland.
"The Baton will be one of the most well-travelled and recognisable objects in the world."
Minister for Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe MP:
"The international sector of the Queen’s Baton Relay will be the final leg in the race to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
"The Baton is a great symbol of the Games and this tour will help build the excitement in the lead up to start of competition in April 2018."
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Tamara Morris
+61 400 658 429
tamara.morris@goldoc.com
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)
Martin Reynolds
+44 7789 772619
m.reynolds@thecgf.com
Commonwealth Games Federation
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
