Commonwealth Games Baton on its way

The final countdown to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games is underway, with The Queen’s Relay Baton starting its long journey from Buckingham Palace to the Gold Coast.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate were on hand for the ceremony that has brought the spotlight firmly towards the Gold Coast.

“Three hundred and eight seven days from now, the Commonwealth Games will be underway on the Gold Coast,” the Premier said.

“The start of the Baton Relay provides all Queenslanders with the opportunity to track the Baton’s progress, with every day bringing it closer to the Opening Ceremony.”

The Baton was delivered to Buckingham Palace by Paralympic champion and GC2018 Ambassador Kurt Fearnley.

The Queen’s message was placed inside the Baton and handed to Her Majesty by nine year-old middle distance runner Emily Dean from Southport, England, who was identified through GOLDOC’s international Schools Connect Program.

The Baton was then received by Rockhampton’s Olympic and Commonwealth Gold Medallist Anna Meares who carried it through the Palace Gates before handing it on to her long-time rival, England’s Victoria Pendleton.

In a first for the Commonwealth Games, representatives of the Yugambeh people, traditional owners of the land where the Commonwealth Games will be held, delivered an invitation to all First Nation peoples of the Commonwealth to join the celebrations on the Gold Coast in April 2018.

The Queen’s Baton will now travel through the entire Commonwealth, starting with Sierra Leone on the 15th of March.

It will arrive in Australia on Christmas Day for a final 100 day journey through every state and territory before arriving on the Gold Coast on 4 April 2018.

Media Contact:

Geoff Beusch    0417 272 875