Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in ‘Middle Earth’

Media Release

Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in ‘Middle Earth’

The pipes will be calling as the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay team arrive at Wellington airport on Friday morning. Piper, Malcolm Galloway, will be on hand to welcome the Baton and pipe it through the airport.

The Baton will be carried by British High Commissioner, Vicki Treadell, who will then board a bus to Freyburg Pool where she will hand over the Queen’s Baton to a student from Chilton School. This will mark the beginning of the relay along Wellington Waterfront as the baton is passed onto pupils from Thorndon School and Scots College on its way to Parliament.

Mrs Treadell said, “the Queen’s Baton Relay brings with it excitement and fun, especially for the children involved as part of the relay. But most of all with it we carry the magic and spirit of the Games embodying the values of the Commonwealth. It brings with it the Queen’s message, the hopes and aspirations that unite the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace.”

Paul Foster-Bell MP along with Wellington Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown will receive the Baton on the steps of Parliament before a formal reception in the Grand Hall.

Here, the “33Fifty” youth leadership programme that will take place before the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, will be announced by New Zealander, Katherine Mcindoe, the 2013 winner of the Royal Commonwealth Society Essay competition.

“33Fifty” is for young Commonwealth citizens aged between18 and 25 because 33% of the world’s population live in the Commonwealth and 50% of those are under 25. It aims to develop leaders who bring people together, reconcile differences and lead change - sharing the values of the Commonwealth.

The Queen’s Baton relay began its 190,000 kilometre journey around 70 nations and territories in October 2013 and unites the two billion people of the Commonwealth. From Wellington the baton moves on to the Edinburgh of the southern hemisphere, Dunedin.

The Commonwealth Games take place 23 July 2014 – 3 August 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. Around 200 New Zealanders will be taking part in 17 sports.

SCHEDULE

09:00 Baton arrive at Wellington airport

09:45 Leaves Freyburg Pool- Chilton School

10:00 Taranaki wharf at far end of the causeway by the back of Te Papa, by the diver statue Thorndon School

10:15 Queens’s wharf under the sails- Scots College

10:30 Parliament steps

10:45- 12:00 reception in Grand Hall

Public welcome to attend.

ABOUT THE BATON

Queens Baton relay takes place prior to each edition of the Commonwealth Games
The baton will return to Glasgow, Scotland in time for the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2015 Commonwealth Games on 23 July 2014.
Contains a message to the athletes from the Queen inscribed on parchment handmade in Glasgow. This message will be read at the Opening Ceremony.
The baton comprises a lattice framework inspired by Glasgow’s rich industrial and architectural heritage.
The baton’s handle is made from elm-wood as a tribute to Scotland’s natural resources and constructed using a traditional boat-building technique.
The baton contains a granite ‘gemstone’, unique to Scotland, which will be gifted to every nation and territory.
198,000 km
288 days
Takes in 30% of the world’s population, the world’s second largest nation (Canada) to its smallest (Nauru).

SCHOOLS INVOLVED

The three schools involved in Wellington are part of the ANZ Olympic Schools Programme. All in all 18 ANZ Olympic Schools are taking part in Baton relay from Auckland to Dunedin. For more about ANZ

Olympic Schools: https://comms.anz.co.nz/anzolympicschool/school/resource.html

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