By Wale Joseph
The countdown to 2022 Commonwealth Games holding in Birmingham City, United Kingdom between 28 July to 8 August, 2022 as officially begins with the Queen’s Baton Relay, an iconic event of the Games.
The Queen’s Baton Relay which is similar to the Olympic Torch is a relay around the Commonwealth nations while the Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen at a special event at Buckingham Palace in London as part of the city’s Commonwealth Day festivities flag off the Relay.
With preparations ongoing across member nations of Commonwealth the Queen’s Baton Relay will arrive Nigeria on Saturday, 16 October, 2021 with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare leading other top sports dignitaries such as the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel to receive the Queen’s Baton on behalf of the country.
While President Muhammadu Buhari will receive the Queen’s Baton at the Aso Rock same day from where the Baton will move to 15 other African countries starting with
Gambia same day.
Nigeria however happen to be the third nation in the Commonwealth to receive the Baton.
Sierra Leone will on October 23 receive the baton after it will be the turn of Ghana on the 26 October while Cameroon will receive it on the 29th, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania will take their turn on 2, 5, 10 and 13 November respectively.
Malawi and Zambia will on the 17 and 20 November play host to the Queen’s Baton Relay team, Mozambique, Mauritius and Botswana would receive the team on 23, 27 and 30 November.
St. Helena would lead other Commonwealth countries like South Africa and Namibia to receive the Baton on 5, 8 and 14 December with Eswatini, Lesotho and Seychelles taking their turns on 17, 20 and 23 December respectively.
The Baton is expected to travel for 294 days, visiting all 72 nations and territories as well as connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures and sharing stories while at the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen or her representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in the United Kingdom from 28 July to 8 August, 2022.