To welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to Bangladesh, the British High Commission in Dhaka hosted a reception ceremony on Friday.
The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay arrived in Dhaka on Thursday (Jan 6) as it continues its global journey around the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories before concluding at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28.
The reception was attended by several renowned sports persons in Bangladesh, representatives of Bangladesh government, different civil society organisations, youth groups, British businesses, and heads of missions of the Commonwealth countries in Bangladesh.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said: “With the 50th anniversary of UK-Bangladesh relations and our ties through the Commonwealth, the arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Bangladesh is another important milestone of Brit Bangla Bondhon.
“The Baton Relay has been an essential part of the Commonwealth Games for over 60 years and celebrates communities from across the Commonwealth during the run up to the Games. It ignites hope, solidarity, and collaboration as it connects communities embracing unique cultures and inspires the next generation of sporting heroes.”
The arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay will amplify moments of celebration in Bangladesh with its golden jubilee of independence, and offer opportunities for reflection and connection, galvanizing the future potential of the Commonwealth.
After Bangladesh, the Baton Relay will travel to India on January 10.
It may be mentioned that the Queen’s Baton Relay is the traditional curtain raiser for the Commonwealth Games. It begun when the Baton, containing a message from The Queen, departs from Buckingham Palace on October 7, 2021. The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres.
For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days. The global journey will conclude at the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony.
The Commonwealth Games bring nations together in a colourful celebration of sport and human performance. But the Games have evolved dramatically since its beginnings in 1930. Held every four years, with a hiatus during World War II, the Games have grown from featuring 11 countries and 400 athletes, to a global spectacle of 6,600 sports men and women from across 72 nations and territories.
The UK is hosting Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Birmingham 2022 will bring together 6,500 athletes and team officials from the Commonwealth countries in a spirit of friendly competition and a celebration of the Commonwealth family's rich diversity and shared goals of democracy, development and peace.
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is one of three major events the UK is hosting in 2022 alongside Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee and Festival UK 2022.
