THE QUEEN’S Baton Relay will be visiting Rugby on Thursday July 21.
The relay for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will pass through the town centre in between visits to Caldecott Park and Rugby School.
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.
The Relay is set to travel the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on July 28.
Kicking off on June 2, the baton will spend four days in London, coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend. The baton will then resume the international journey and return to England on July 4 to commence a 25-day tour of the regions.
During its time in Rugby, the Queen’s Baton Relay will begin at a Community Festival in Caldecott Park at 2.15pm before heading through the town centre via North Street and High Street and arriving at Rugby School at 2.45pm.
Coun Seb Lowe, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: “The Queen’s Baton relay is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Rugby to get involved with the Commonwealth games.
“On July 21 there will be a community day in Caldecott Park before the Baton relay continues through Rugby town centre on its journey to the games.
“I’m looking forward to the day, and hope that communities make the most of their chance to be involved in the games.”
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 last October, when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Batonbearers to carry it.
Since then, the baton has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania. It still has further destinations in the Caribbean, the Americas, and more countries in Europe, including the Home Nations consisting of five days in Scotland, four in Northern Ireland and five in Wales, before returning to England in summer for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games, when it will reach hundreds of villages, towns and cities.
Thousands of Baton bearers, each with inspiring backgrounds and stories, will carry the Baton during the journey through England, including those nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community. Between 40 and 130 Batonbearers will carry the Baton each day.
The Birmingham 2022 website will be updated with information over the coming months, with detail on the events and where to line the route.
Visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr for more information.
