Thursday 7th October saw 15 pupils from King Edward VI Handsworth School for girls attend a special ceremony on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace to launch the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay.
They were joined by Her Majesty The Queen, The Earl of Wessex, Baton Bearers (made up of athletes who will be competing in next year’s Commonwealth Games), representatives from across the Commonwealth and local Birmingham hometown heroes who help others access sport across the city.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates and connects countries from across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games. The Baton will visit 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth for 294 days, covering 140,000 kilometres. The global journey will conclude at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022.
The Baton was created in a West Midlands collaboration that fused art, technology, and science. Made from copper, aluminium and steel, the Baton also features a platinum strand in homage to Her Majesty The Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year. It is also equipped with cutting-edge technology; a 360 degree-camera, heart rate monitor, atmospheric sensors and LED lighting.
The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton, for it to be sealed and locked. The Queen’s message will be read out in full next year at the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony.
King Edwards VI Handsworth School for Girls pupils made up more than 70 young people from Birmingham who lined the stage and held flags from all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth. The flagbearers were made up members of Birmingham City Council’s Youth City Board, Wilson Stuart School, CORE Academy, Hall Green School and our own King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls.
The official Birmingham 2022 mascot, Perry, who wore his bespoke tuxedo instead of his basketball kit for the occasion, was also in good spirits at the ceremony and chatted and posed for photos with the pupils.
Mrs Gardner, Head of PE commented: “The launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay was an incredibly special moment for our pupils to be part of and we were really honoured to be asked to attend. The eyes of the world will be on Birmingham now and we cannot wait until Birmingham 2022.”
