Today, marks the opening of the pre-selected Batonbearer nominations for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay. This event holds great significance for the Games which started on 7th October 2021. Since then, the Baton has travelled across the globe and is currently set to arrive in India on the 12th for three days until continuing its journey to Singapore.
This momentous part of the Games began in Wales in 1958 when Cardiff hosted the Games. A message from the Queen was placed inside and carried by various runners until the Opening Ceremony where it was read out to the public. During the 1998 Kuala Lumpur CWG, the first Baton travelled outside of the host nation. Later, the Melbourne 2006 Games saw the first Baton to visit every nation that was competing in those Games.
The Baton Relay is a symbol that celebrates the Commonwealth’s diversity whilst aiming to boost community pride and acknowledgement that sport is a joiner of people of all races, genders and ages. Previously, the Queen has expressed her feelings towards this event. “The baton relay represents a calling together of people from every part of the Commonwealth”.
As a partner of Birmingham 2022, GL events UK is honoured to be given the opportunity to nominate a maximum of ten Batonbearers. These people could be selected from our own team who have particularly moving or remarkable stories or individuals from our partnerships such as Jericho Foundation and The ReUsers. Birmingham 2022 outlines this as a person who is:
- Always willing to take on a challenge and has a unique and inspiring story.
- Has made a meaningful contribution to sport, education, the arts, culture, or charity.
- Is a figure of inspiration that positively challenges others to achieve their best.
- Has taken on a challenge or cause and made a positive impact within their community
We have a few great nominations, from one of our partners and from our team working on the project who will be named if they are selected. One of our partners who will be nominating an individual is Change Kitchen CIC, founded by Birgit Kehrer. Based in Birmingham, this organisation aims to provide healthy meals for disadvantaged people across the area as well as providing training and employment. GL events UK hopes to document the journey of our selected nominees when the selection process ends on 4th March 2022.
Find out more information about the Queen’s Baton Relay | Birmingham 2022 directly from their Official Website.
