The Queens Baton Relay

The Queen’s Baton Relay and Precise Events work is well under way and so far everywhere the baton has been excitement is sure to follow!  Covering 70 nations and territories, the 190,000km Queen’s Baton Relay has been up and running since June 14 and we’ve been involved in 23 fantastic events across Scotland.

What is the Queens Baton Relay?

The Queen’s Baton Relay marks the beginning of the Commonwealth Games, much in the way that the Olympic Torch Relay does for the Olympic Games.  The baton contains a message from HRH Queen Elizabeth II and traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London as part of Commonwealth Day celebrations.  Here the Queen gives the baton to the relay runner who is scheduled to start the race, it is then handed back to her at the Opening Ceremony of the Games by the final relay runner.  The message is then read aloud and marks the official opening of the Games.

There are up to 4000 baton bearers from over 400 communities who will be joining the Queen’s Baton Relay, making it Scotland’s biggest ever relay.  So far we have provided mobile stages, sound, generators and pyrotechnics to 10 events and are looking forward to working on 7 more before the baton’s 288 day journey around the Commonwealth comes to an end.

The Queen’s Battle Relay will finish off in Glasgow where it is due to arrive July 20.  The Commonwealth Games will are set to begin on July 23 and run until August 3.