It will be a busy four days when the Queen’s Baton makes its visit to Trinidad and Tobago from March 11-14, en route to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, which will be held from July 23 to August 3.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a tradition of the Commonwealth Games and symbolises the coming together of all Commonwealth nations and territories.
The customary relay is a celebration of the Commonwealth family, and offers an opportunity to showcase each nation and territory in the Commonwealth.
The Baton touches down in Trinidad on March 11, and the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association will be working in collaboration with the British Council, the British High Commission and the Tobago House of Assembly to celebrate its brief stay.
Local coordinators of the Queen’s Baton Relay, Kwanieze John and Jeannette Small outlined a list of events for the Baton which will culminate in a relay from St Joseph Secondary to the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on March 13.
During a press conference at Olympic House in Port of Spain yesterday, Small said that on the first day, they will greet the Queen’s Baton and its delegation at Piarco International Airport and will also have a reception at the British High Commission following its arrival.
On the following day, the Baton will visit Tobago for the day, returning to Trinidad in the afternoon.
“On the third day, we plan to hold a Baton Relay which will start at St Joseph Secondary School and end at Hasely Crawford Stadium. The T&T Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships is taking place on March 13, and we intend to complete the relay at that event.”
On the trip to the Crawford Stadium, the Baton will be accompanied by the British High Commissioner, representatives from the T&T Commonwealth Games Association, and representatives from both the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and the T&T Paralympic Committee, as well as past Commonwealth Games athletes and athletes competing at this year’s games.
The Baton departs T&T on March 14, heading to St Vincent and the Grenadines for the next leg.
The Baton began its journey in October last year, leaving England with a message inside for the Commonwealth. It will return to the Queen for the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Games on July 23 when she will read her message aloud and officially declare the Games open.