Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games.
In Wales, the Queen’s Baton Relay will provide the opportunity for communities to experience the excitement for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of show stopping sport nears ever closer.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is set to travel through Wales over 5 days, before returning to England and culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July 2022. Starting off on Wednesday 29 June in Holyhead, Anglesey the Baton will travel down the Country and across South Wales, with a grand finale in Swansea on Sunday 3 June.
A busy schedule of activities and events are planned for the Queen’s Baton Relay, with opportunities to highlight untold stories from Baton-bearers who are striving for change in their community.
During its time on Anglesey the Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Holyhead at 8.45am - starting at the RNLI Station (Postcode: LL65 1YA). This will be followed by activities on the new 3G pitch at Holyhead Park and Millbank School playing fields – which include - tag rugby festival and tennis competitions.
Members of the public are encouraged to get involved with the celebrations and embrace the arrival of the Baton, taking the opportunity to experience the excitement of Birmingham 2022 in their community. The Team Wales website will be updated with information over the coming weeks, with details on the events and where to line the route.
Anglesey Council Leader, Councillor Llinos Medi, said: “Ynys Môn has a rich history of sporting achievement which we are very proud of. We are delighted that our Island has been chosen to host the Queen’s Baton Relay, as it makes its way to Birmingham to mark the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
She added, “The event will give us the opportunity to showcase our beautiful Island and allow us to be inspired by the amazing stories of those local people who have been honoured as Batonbearers.”
Hundreds of Batonbearers, each with inspiring backgrounds and stories, will have the honour of carrying the Baton during the journey through Wales. These include individuals nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community - whether in sport, education, the arts, culture or charity.
The Batonbearers on Anglesey will consist of 23 young people from local Secondary Schools and Coleg Llandrillo Menai. They will carry the Baton from the RNLI Station to Millbank Community Centre.
During its journey, the Baton will travel via land, air and sea across the country, from energetic cities and historic market towns, to rolling countryside and rugged coastline.
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 began at Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, when The Queen placed Her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox and Team Wales 2018 Gold medallist Lauren Price – both of whom had the honour of being the first of thousands of Batonbearers to carry the Baton.
Since then, the Baton has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania, Caribbean and the Americas, with the Home Nations being the last stop, consisting of five days in Scotland, four in Northern Ireland and five in Wales, where it will finish on Sunday 3 July, before returning to England in the summer for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games.
The full Team Wales schedule is available on the Team Wales website.
Commonwealth Games Wales CEO, Chris Jenkins said ‘’The Queen’s Baton Relay is one event that I always thoroughly enjoy being involved in. Having the opportunity for us to travel across Wales, engage with people in communities, and be part of so many different events – it really does bring us together as a Country, and this certainly accentuates the build-up for Team Wales in Birmingham this summer.”
He added, “The planning and work that all the Local Authorities do to ensure the events are safe, seamless, and most importantly interesting and fun takes months of planning, and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their time, commitment and enthusiasm. We are now looking forward to the Queen’s Baton arriving here in Wales, where we will be visiting schools, historical locations and showcase the beautiful landscape we have.’’
The Queen’s Baton
The Queen’s Baton for Birmingham 2022 was created in a West Midlands collaboration that fused art, technology and science. Made from copper, aluminium and steel, the Baton also features a platinum strand in homage to The Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year. It is also equipped with cutting-edge technology; 360-degree camera, heart rate monitor, atmospheric sensors and LED lighting.
For more information on the Queen’s Baton Relay, visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr.
The information provided on the route through Wales could be subject to change.
Ends 22 June 2022
For more information on the Queens Baton Relay in Wales, Team Wales or Commonwealth Games Wales please contact Cathy.Williams@teamwales.cymru
Notes to editors
Imagery and footage from the international Queen’s Baton Relay can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c2djp3ht3w6p0cd/AADLANtNcPkQ5_nQRoSAugG8a?dl=0
About the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities in every corner of the Commonwealth ahead of Birmingham 2022.
The Baton has already begun its epic journey across the Commonwealth, where it will have visited Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean, and the Americas, it will return to England in July 2022 for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton will travel around England for 25 days, before the Relay officially ends at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Games tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across Commonwealth during the build up to the Games.
This collective journey will ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation, with these stories leaving us all inspired to take on the challenges that matter most to us.
For more information, visit birmingham2022.com/qbr
About the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region, and its people on the global stage.
The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.
Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.
Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com