Press Release: Queen's Baton Relay | Birmingham 2022
Updated Date: 23rd December, 2021
Colombo, 23 December 2021 – Once in every four years on the footsteps of the great Olympic Games comes the second most popular athletic spectacle on globe – the Commonwealth Games where athletes from 72 nations and territories would test their skills on an even scale.
As a prelude to the Games proper Birmingham – the host city will stage the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – an epic journey across the Commonwealth, reaching Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities across the Commonwealth countries and territories during the buildup to the Games. With 11 days of swimming and diving, 8 days of cricket, 8 days of gymnastics and 7 days of athletics, including the marathon, the summer of 2022 is set for a spectacular athletic event and the Queen’s Baton Relay got underway on October 7, 2021 and will wind its way back to Birmingham after 294 days covering 140,000 kilometres to flag off the Games which will take place from 28 July to 8 August 2022.
The Lankan leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay will take place from 3rd January 2022 to 6th January 2022. The QBR Baton is scheduled to arrive at the BIA at 11.40 a.m. on 3rd January 2022 and will travel to Colombo to the CGA Headquarters in Colombo-7 and culminated with a ceremony at the reception at the British High Commission.
On January 4, the Baton will move to the hill country and start the festivities with a reception at the Victoria Dam constructed in 1978 funded by aid granted by the United Kingdom under the patronage of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The next phase of the festivity will be at the Ranabima Royal College, Kandy where the British Council will be conducting an Education programme under the auspicious of CGA Sri Lanka.
On 5 January, the Baton will travel to Hatton to visit a tea estate before travelling down to Colombo in its last leg of festivities.
During the QBR journey in Sri Lanka, the Baton is likely to have a programme at the Ceylon Tea Museum in Hanthana, Ceylon School for the deaf and blind in Ratmalana, Temple Trees and then move to Colombo with some sports activity in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
