Birmingham boosts 2022 Bid with Baton visit

Counting down towards the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Baton’s visit is in recognition of Birmingham’s own Commonwealth Games ambitions as it bids for 2022.

Many of Birmingham’s iconic landmarks and showcase sports events will feature in the Queen’s Baton Relay’s visit and there are opportunities for the public to see the Baton and Olympic and Paralympic medallists, Commonwealth Games Champions and World Champions who will be escorting it.

With a focus on youth, inclusion and diversity Birmingham 2022’s ambition is that the Baton’s visit will also inspire future generations, with rising stars escorting the Queen’s Baton Relay alongside taster sessions of Commonwealth Games sports.

The Baton can be viewed on Sunday as follows:

10:30am The Baton’s Birmingham visit will begin with a rousing Gospel Choir send-off in Lozells, with local athletes Daniel Chisanga (24), football, and Monique Hume Woode (26), netball, being the City’s first Baton Bearers in recognition of their commitment to sport and their community.

From 11:30am The Baton will visit the Fan Zone at Alexander Stadium, ahead of the Muller Grand Prix and spectators will have the opportunity to capture their own photos with the Baton. During the pre-show entertainment (from 12:30pm), the Baton will be paraded around the track by special guests who have recently achieved great success for GB at the IAAF World Championships.

From 1:30pm The bronze Bull in front of the Bullring will provide an iconic backdrop for photographs with Olympic bronze medallist gymnast Kristian Thomas and Commonwealth Games gymnast Mimi Cesar. Local rhythmic gymnasts will demonstrate their sport whilst the public have the chance to see the Baton up close.

4:00pm Subject to play, the Baton will make a fleeting lunch break visit to Edgbaston, marking the fourth day of the England v West Indies Test Match and the first Day/ Night Test Match.

5:30pm Para Track Cycling Commonwealth Champion Helen Scott will escort the Baton around Brindley Place and canalside for more iconic photographs, including outside the planned Gymnastics venue, Barclaycard Arena.

Bidgley Power Badminton Club will be running a badminton taster session in Brindley Place from 4:30pm.

6:30pm A steel drum band will welcome the Baton to its final stop at the award-winning Library of Birmingham where WBA super-flyweight Boxing World Champion Kal Yafai and his boxing brothers Gamal and Galal, will escort the Baton for a civic reception with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Anne Underwood.

Note, this event is invite only

The visit comes just days after Birmingham submits its secondary phase Bid City application.

Ian Ward, Deputy Leader, Birmingham City Council and Chair of the Commonwealth Games Bid Team, said:

“This weekend marks a major milestone in our bid for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, having now submitted our secondary phase Bid City application.

“It is fitting that we can celebrate with this Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay’s visit so let’s show how much we want the Commonwealth Games in our hometown by coming out and supporting it on Sunday. In five years’ time we could be counting down towards our own Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

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