Queen’s Baton comes to Birmingham
The Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) comes to Birmingham on 2 June during its two week journey across England, drumming up support for Team England and celebrating sport as it goes.
The Baton will visit Birmingham on its journey across England, marking the countdown to the Commonwealth Games which start in Glasgow on 23 July.
Cllr Ian Ward
Deputy Leader for Birmingham City Council, Cllr Ian Ward, said: “I'm delighted that Birmingham was selected to host the Queen's Baton Relay as it is a great opportunity for us to show our support for Team England.
“It also gives us the chance to inspire more local people to try new sports and take part in our award winning Be Active physical activity programme or our Active Parks programme - 'leisure centres without walls' - which supports activities within Birmingham parks.”
Commonwealth Games England President Dame Kelly Holmes, who won Commonwealth Gold in Manchester in 2002, said: “Birmingham has a huge sporting tradition and I know that the public here will support the English athletes at the Games in July. The QBR is a great chance to both send your backing to the Team in Glasgow and have a go at some of the sports that will be available at QBR events.”
The Queen’s Baton Relay is the traditional curtain-raiser to the XX Commonwealth Games. By the time it arrives in England the Baton will have visited 68 nations and territories. The Baton contains a message from the Queen to the Commonwealth that will be read out at the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow Games.
Its visit to England is the last international leg of the relay before the Baton enters Scotland. Each English city or local authority area hosting a day with the baton will organise a series of events, many of which will be open to the public, to celebrate sport and rouse support for the team.
Commonwealth Games England are calling on the English public to greet the Baton with messages of support to Team England via @weRengland or the Commonwealth Games England Facebook page OfficialWeAreEngland, and feel motivated to get moving and perhaps try a new sport.
At each event, there will be a small number of Batonbearers, specially chosen for their contribution to sport in the local community. More information about the Batonbearers at each event will be announced in the Spring.
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For more information about the Queen's Baton Relay on its journey through England call Andy Bate, Commonwealth Games England Communications Manager on 07932 102826 admin@birminghamnewsroom.com
For more information about the Birmingham leg of the Queen's Baton Relay contact Debbie Harrison at Birmingham City Council on 0121 303 4476 / 078801 80385
Notes to Editors
Further details about Queen's Baton Relay events and how you can engage with the Baton will be published on the Commonwealth Games England website http://www.weareengland.org/ or via @weRengland
The Queen's Baton Relay in England is supported with National Lottery funding from Sport England.
The Queen's Baton Relay will call at the following places on the following dates on its journey through England in 2014
Saturday 31st May - Manchester /Cheshire (Congleton)
Sunday 1st June - Sheffield
Monday 2nd June - Birmingham
Tuesday 3rd June - Plymouth (AM) and Bristol (PM)
Wednesday 4th June - Southampton
Thursday 5th June - Kent
Friday 6th June - Oxford
Saturday 7th June - London
Sunday 8th June - London
Monday 9th June - Suffolk
Tuesday 10th June - Leicester
Wednesday 11th June - Hull
Thursday 12th June - Leeds
Friday 13th June - Newcastle Gateshead (AM) and Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (PM)
