1st November 2013
What a buzz to be involved in the Queen’s Baton Relay when it arrived on the Gold Coast!
I had the honour of carrying the baton while cycling, flanked either side by some of our young riders. We assembled as a ‘flying v’ on our bikes to cycle 200m to the entrance of the iconic Q1 to then pass the baton on to swimmer Brenton Rickard and Premier Campbell Newman.
It really was a special day to allow our young kids to feel the spirit, to open up their eyes to possibilities and to realise that it is real. They could feel the electric atmosphere and they could see and touch the baton, which is what helps make representing Australia or being involved in some capacity feel like a reality!
It was a day of inspiration, excitement and hope for our community with the realisation that the Commonwealth Games will be in our own backyard here on the Gold Coast in just over 4years time!
The Queen’s Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday 9 October 2013, where Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II placed Her message to the Commonwealth into the baton. This message and the baton is a symbolic invitation to the Commonwealth nations and territories to attend the Games.
The Queen’s Baton Relay has been part of the Opening Ceremony at every Games since Cardiff, Wales, in 1958. It’s journey this time round extends over a period of 288 days and covers more than 190,000kms visiting 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, before concluding its journey at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 23 July 2014 when her Majesty The Queen will read Her message aloud, officially declaring the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games open.
The next time that will happen will be on our home turf for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games!
Below are some links to media from the Queen’s Baton Relay event:
Seven– http://au.sports.yahoo.com/videos/watch/19640514/queens-baton-relay-reaches-gold-coast
ABC– http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-01/queens-baton-reaches-qld-en-route-to-glasgow-for/5065414
Ten– http://tenplay.com.au/news/brisbane/2013/11/1/weekend-weather?autoStart=true
BBC– http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24772650
Nine– http://video.news.ninemsn.com.au/?videoid=2791490858001&src=widget%3AsuggestedVideos
