Queen’s Baton Relay kicks off on a typical ‘English’ wet weather day
On a rainy afternoon on Saturday, October 19, 16 school children (representing the 16 Commonwealth values- accompanying the Commonwealth Games Baton) heralded the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay kicked off with veteran athlete Sriyani Kulawansa leading the way at Independence Square.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is the Commonwealth Games equivalent of the Olympic torch and it will travel to 70 competing nations, covering over 190,000 km through Commonwealth territories in Asia, Africa, North and South America, and the Caribbean ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be held on July 23, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The baton which was down here in Sri Lanka till last Monday, was heralded in by two ceremonies in Kandy and Colombo, with the highlight being the Queen’s Baton Relay, held in Colombo. Greeted with gloomy skies and a gentle blessing of rain – perhaps the evening reminded the British High Commissioners of Commonwealth missions of the weather back at home, as they pulled out their umbrellas.
The relay circled around the Independence Square and ended with the handing over of the baton to the Vice President of Commonwealth Games Federation, and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka, Hemasiri Fernando who in turn presented it to the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, John Rankin.
Speaking to the Sunday Times Mr. Rankin said that the Baton Relay symbolises the unity of two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. “I’m also delighted to welcome all the athletes to my home-town Glasgow,” said the High Commissioner. “The Baton being down here in Sri Lanka is of particular importance as it was right here in Colombo, that the final decision to host the games in Glasgow was made, at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in November 2007.”
Explaining the purpose of the relay, the Commissioner said that it carries the Queen’s handwritten message of peace within diversity that will be read out by her at the opening ceremony of the Games. The first Queen’s Baton relay was staged for the
Big moment: Commonwealth Essay Competition winner Shenuka Corea hands back the Baton book after signing it. Pic by Indika Handuwala
1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, and has been the curtain raiser to the Games ever since. But up until 1998, it only travelled through the U.K and the host nation. By the 2006 Games in Melbourne, the Baton Relay expanded to all the countries which sent teams to the Games.
A subsequent event at the British High Commissioner’s residence, with the collaboration of the National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Sports saw the Postmaster General launching a first day cover to mark the event. Shenuka Corea, the overall winner of the Commonwealth Essay Competition 2012 signed the Baton Book which will travel to all the countries participating in the Games. The Baton book contains messages from young citizens of each of the 70 nations, and will provide inspiration to 33Fifty – a youth leadership programme by the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, which aims to equip young leaders with the skills needed to reconcile differences, lead change and use the Commonwealth network effectively.
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