The United Kingdom’s National Day celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai kicked off on Thursday morning with the Coldstream Guards Band of the British Army leading the 16th Queen’s Baton Relay from the UK Pavilion across the site, ahead of July’s 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. As a part of the Birmingham 2022 showcase at Expo, the Queen’s Baton Relay visited several Commonwealth nations attending Expo 2020 Dubai collectively in anticipation for the upcoming Games.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries mentioned: “2022 is set to be an incredible year of celebration for the UK, with three amazing global events on home soil. The arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Dubai will help build excitement about Birmingham 2022, the Platinum Jubilee and Unboxed”.
A 20-minute cultural presentation welcomed the parade at the India Pavilion, led by Tadu Mamu, Consul for Culture, Press and Labour at the Consulate General of India in Dubai, and Dr Gunveena Chadha, Director of the India Pavilion. The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey across the Commonwealth, with The Queen’s Baton visiting all 72 nations and territories, reaching Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas.
The international route spans 269 days, spending between two and four days in each nation or territory, covering approximately 90,000 miles (140,000 kilometres), with over 7,500 Baton Bearers carrying the Baton in their community, arriving in Birmingham for the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on July 28. During the visit, each nation and territory will host events and activities that showcase untold stories from Batonbearers, athletes, and young people who are striving for change in their community, as well as showcasing a project that address one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Baton will witness moments of celebration, visit local schools and explore iconic landmarks. The Baton will then return to England, where it will travel for 25 days, with its journey coming to end at the Birmingham 2022 Opening Ceremony.
By: Delroy Constantine-Simms and Sonia Dixon
