Host cityGold Coast, Australia
Countries visitedAll 71 Commonwealth Nations
Distance230,000 km (142915 miles)
Baton bearers8,000
Start date13 March 2017
End date04 April 2018
Baton designerAlex Wall and Warren Shroeder

The 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay was run from 13 March 2017 until 4 April 2018, prior to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The baton bearer selection process for the Australian segment was announced on 18 October 2017.[1]

As well as touring Australia the schedule included the other 70 Commonwealth Nations.

Organisation

The Queen's Baton Relay was launched on Commonwealth Day, 13 March 2017, on the historic forecourt at Buckingham Palace in London, signalling the official countdown to the start of the Games. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Edward, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heralded the start of the relay by placing her 'message to the Commonwealth and its athletes' into the distinctive loop-design Queen's Baton which then set off on its journey around the globe.[2] Her Majesty was accompanied by Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Peter Beattie, Chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) and Yugambeh elders Patricia O'Connor and Ted Williams in the ceremony. The Queen's baton was brought into the stage by Australian Paralympic champion Kurt Fearnley . He started from Marlborough House up The Mall and then into the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace. He was also accompanied by the Band of the Scots Guards, who played by permission of Major General BJ Bathurst, The Major General commanding the Household Division.[3] After the message was placed safely inside the Baton, The Queen handed over the baton to Australian cyclist and Commonwealth and Olympic Games gold medalist Anna Meares. She, along with English track cyclist Victoria Pendleton, then carried the baton around the Queen Victoria Memorial and handed over to the Australian singer Cody Simpson. He then boarded on a Kombi van with the baton and left the place as an indication to the Baton's final destination, Gold Coast.[4]

The baton travelled for 388 days, spending time in every nation and territory of the Commonwealth. The Gold Coast 2018 Queen's Baton Relay was the longest in Commonwealth Games history. Covering 230,000 km over 388 days, the baton made its way through the six Commonwealth regions of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania.[5] For the first time in the history of the baton relay, the Queen's Baton was presented at the Commonwealth Youth Games during its sixth edition in 2017 which was held in Nassau, Bahamas.[6] The baton landed on Australian soil on 24 December 2017 and then spent 100 days travelling through Australia.[7]

The Queen's baton

Queen's baton for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Queen's baton for the 2018 Commonwealth Games had a distinctive loop design and was made of macadamia wood and recycled plastic sourced from Gold Coast waterways. Its design was inspired by the Queensland's "vibrant spirit and indigenous heritage" and with sustainability.[8] The design of the baton was unveiled on 20 November 2016 at a special ceremony in the Jupiter Gold Coast Hotel.[9] The baton was designed by Alex Wall and Warren Shroeder from the Brisbane-based firm Designworks.[10][11] At the 2018 Good Design Awards conducted by the Good Design Australia, the baton won the Best Product Sport and Lifestyle award.[12]

International route

Africa

The Queen's Baton travelled in the following countries in Africa:[13]

Sl. No. Nation/Territory Arrival date
1 Sierra Leone 15 March 2017
2 Ghana 18 March 2017
3 Rwanda 22 March 2017
4 Uganda 25 March 2017
5 Cameroon 29 March 2017
6 Nigeria 1 April 2017
7 Kenya 5 April 2017
8 United Republic of Tanzania 8 April 2017
9 Seychelles 11 April 2017
10 Mauritius 15 April 2017
11 Malawi 20 April 2017
12 Zambia 24 April 2017
13 Namibia 27 April 2017
14 Botswana 1 May 2017
15 Mozambique 4 May 2017
16 Eswatini 8 May 2017
17 Lesotho 11 May 2017
18 South Africa 15 May 2017
19 Saint Helena 20 May 2017

Caribbean

The Queen's baton traveled in the following countries in the Caribbean:[14]

Sl. No. Nation/Territory Arrival date
20 Trinidad and Tobago 28 May 2017
21 Grenada 31 May 2017
22 St Vincent and the Grenadines 3 June 2017
23 Saint Lucia 7 June 2017
24 Barbados 10 June 2017
25 Dominica 14 June 2017
26 Antigua and Barbuda 17 June 2017
27 Montserrat 21 June 2017
28 St Kitts and Nevis 24 June 2017
29 Anguilla 28 June 2017
30 British Virgin Islands 1 July 2017
31 Jamaica 5 July 2017
32 Turks and Caicos Islands 11 July 2017
33 Cayman Islands 14 July 2017

Americas

The Queen's baton traveled in the following countries in Americas:[15]

Sl. No. Nation/Territory Arrival date
34 The Bahamas 18 July 2017
35 Bermuda 24 July 2017
36 Canada 27 July 2017
37 Belize 2 August 2017
38 Guyana 7 August 2017
39 Falkland Islands 12 August 2017

Europe

The Queen's baton traveled in the following countries in Europe:[16]

Sl. No. Nation/Territory Arrival date
40 England 16 August 2017
41 Scotland 22 August 2017
42 Northern Ireland 28 August 2017
43 Isle of Man 1 September 2017
44 Wales 4 September 2017
45 Guernsey 9 September 2017
46 Jersey 13 September 2017
47 Gibraltar 17 September 2017
48 Malta 21 September 2017
49 Cyprus 25 September 2017

Asia

The Queen's baton traveled in the following countries in Asia:[17]

Sl. No. Nation/Territory Arrival date
50 Pakistan 29 September 2017
51 India 3 October 2017
52 Bangladesh 9 October 2017
53 Sri Lanka 12 October 2017
54 Malaysia 16 October 2017
55 Brunei Darussalam 21 October 2017
56 Singapore 25 October 2017

Oceania

The Queen's baton traveled in the following countries in Oceania:[18]

Sl. No. Nation/Territory Arrival date
57 Nauru 1 November 2017
58 Kiribati 3 November 2017
59 Niue 7 November 2017
60 Cook Islands 11 November 2017
61 Tonga 16 November 2017
62 Fiji 20 November 2017
63 Samoa 23 November 2017
64 Tuvalu 28 November 2017
65 Papua New Guinea 1 December 2017
66 Solomon Islands 5 December 2017
67 Vanuatu 9 December 2017
68 Norfolk Island 15 December 2017
69 New Zealand 17 December 2017
70 Australia 24 December 2017

National route

Australian Capital Territory

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in the Australian Capital Territory:[19]

Date Place Transfer
25 January 2018 Canberra
26 January 2018 Canberra
27 January 2018 Canberra to Wagga Wagga

New South Wales

Queen's Baton arrival on NSW Police Eurocopter AS350B2 Ecureuil at Bolton Park
Queens Baton Relay on Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga
Glenn McGrath holding the Queen's baton with Peter Beattie (GOLDOC chairman) and Leisel Jones in Sydney

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in the New South Wales:[20]

Date Place Transfer
28 January 2018 Wagga Wagga
Narrandera
Griffith
29 January 2018 West Wyalong
Forbes
Parkes
30 January 2018 Orange
Wellington
Dubbo
31 January 2018 Coonabarabran
Gunnedah
Tamworth
1 February 2018 Armidale
Bellingen
Coffs Harbour
2 February 2018 Macksville
Kempsey
Forster Tuncurry
3 February 2018 Newcastle
Gosford
Sydney
4 February 2018 Penrith
Sydney Olympic Park
La Perouse
5 February 2018 Wollongong
Kiama
Nowra
6 February 2018 Batemans Bay Batemans Bay to Launceston

Tasmania

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in Tasmania:[21]

Date Place Transfer
7 February 2018 Launceston
Devonport
Burnie
8 February 2018 Travel Day
9 February 2018 Clarence
Glenorchy
Hobart Hobart to Melbourne

Victoria

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in Victoria:[22]

Date Place Transfer
10 February 2018 St Kilda
South Melbourne
Melbourne
Williamstown
Altona
Footscray
11 February 2018 Morwell
Warragul
Frankston
12 February 2018 Sorrento
Queensclif
Torquay
Geelong
13 February 2018 Werribee
Ballarat
Ararat
14 February 2018 Bendigo
Shepparton
Wangaratta
15 February 2018 Wodonga
Yarrawonga
Echuca
16 February 2018 Murrabit
Kerang
Swan Hill
17 February 2018 Nyah
Robinvale
Mildura Mildura to Renmark Paringa

South Australia

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in South Australia:[23]

Date Place Transfer
18 February 2018 Renmark Paringa
Angaston
Glenelg
Adelaide
19 February 2018 Coffin Bay
Port Lincoln
20 February 2018 Penneshaw
Kingscote
21 February 2018 Aldinga
Hahndorf
Lobethal
Stirling Adelaide to Albany

Western Australia

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in Western Australia:[24]

Date Place Transfer
22 February 2018 Albany
Denmark
Manjimup
23 February 2018 Bridgetown
Bunbury
Rockingham
24 February 2018 Rottnest Island
Fremantle
South Perth
Burswood Park
Perth
25 February 2018 Kings Park
City Beach
Scarborough
Hillarys
26 February 2018 Quinns Rocks
Wanneroo
Guildford
27 February 2018 Karratha Karratha to Alice Springs

Northern Territory

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in the Northern Territory:[25]

Date Place
28 February 2018 Alice Springs
1 March 2018 Alice Springs
Litchfield
2 March 2018 Palmerston
Darwin

Queensland

2018 Queen's Baton Relay passing in front of Helensvale Library

The Queen's baton traveled in the following places in Queensland:[26]

Date Place Transfer
3 March 2018 Horn Island Darwin to Horn Island
Thursday Island
Hammond Island
4 March 2018 Injinoo
Umagico
Bamaga
New Mapoon
Seisia
5 March 2018 Cooktown
6 March 2018 Cloncurry
Mount Isa
7 March 2018 Birdsville
Roma
8 March 2018 Mitchell
Morven
Charleville
9 March 2018 Augathella
Tambo
Blackall
10 March 2018 Barcaldine
Ilfracombe
Longreach
11 March 2018 Winton
Hughenden
12 March 2018 Prairie
Pentland
Homestead
Charters Towers
13 March 2018 Travel day
14 March 2018 Ravenshoe
Atherton
Tolga
Mareeba
15 March 2018 Travel day
16 March 2018 Cairns
17 March 2018 Yarrabah
Cairns
Innisfail
Mission Beach
Tully
18 March 2018 Cardwell
Ingham
Townsville
19 March 2018 Townsville
Ayr
Bowen
Airlie Beach
20 March 2018 Mackay
21 March 2018 Nebo
Coppabella
Moranbah
Clermont
22 March 2018 Capella
Anakie
Emerald
23 March 2018 Blackwater
Bluff
Dingo
Duaringa
Rockhampton
Yeppoon
24 March 2018 Gladstone
Miriam Vale
1770
Agnes Water
Bundaberg
25 March 2018 Fraser Island
Hervey Bay
Maryborough
26 March 2018 Gympie
Noosa Heads
27 March 2018 Caloundra
Kilcoy
Kingaroy
28 March 2018 Dalby
Oakey
Toowoomba
29 March 2018 Warwick
Gatton
Ipswich
30 March 2018 Redcliffe
Brisbane
31 March 2018 Cleveland
Brisbane
1 April 2018 Daisy Hill
Beenleigh
North Tamborine
Gold Coast
2 April 2018 Gold Coast
3 April 2018 Gold Coast
4 April 2018 Gold Coast

End of Relay

The end of the relay took place in the 2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The Queen's baton was brought into the Carrara Stadium in a Kombi van by Australian former swimmer Susie O'Neill. She then went to the centre of the stadium and images and videos of popular Gold Coast attractions were projected on the ground of the stadium such as feeding lorikeets, skydiving, dreaming in the ocean, walking in the treetops, and riding the rollercoaster. After that, she handed over the baton to Australian former cyclist Brad McGee , who took it to Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley. Fearnley after parading it around the stadium, handed over to Australian netballer Liz Ellis, who then took it to Australian hockey player Brent Livermore. Finally, Brent handed the baton over to Australian hurdler Sally Pearson. She received a large applause from the audience as she lives in Gold Coast. She went to the dais along with the baton and hand it over to the CGF President Louise Martin. Martin removed the Queen's message from the baton and handed to Prince Charles.[27] Charles read out the message and declared the competition officially open.[28]

Sponsors

Tourism Australia and QSuper sponsored the international and Australian segment of Queen's Baton Relay respectively, while Longines sponsored both the segments.[29][30][31]

References

  1. ↑ "Premier announces GC2018 Baton Bearers - The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory". statements.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Commonwealth Games baton relay under way". BBC News. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Paralympian Kurt Fearnely helps launch Gold Coast 2018 Queen's Baton Relay". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  4. ↑ "Her Majesty The Queen launches Queen's Baton | Commonwealth Games Federation". thecgf.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Queen's Baton | 2018 Commonwealth Games". Gold Coast 2018. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Design and route for Gold Coast 2018 Queen's Baton Relay revealed". www.insidethegames.biz. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "The Queen's Baton Relay arrived in Australia | Longines®". www.longines.com.au. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Price, Michelle (20 November 2016). "GC 2018 Comm Games Queen's Baton design unveiled". myGC.com.au. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  9. ↑ "Design and route for Gold Coast 2018 Queen's Baton Relay revealed". www.insidethegames.biz. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Larkins, Damien; Arthur, rew (20 November 2016). "Queen's baton unveiled for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games". ABC News. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  11. ↑ "GC2018QueensBaton". designworksgroup.net. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton". Good Design. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "Africa" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay International Sector | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 3. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  14. ↑ "Caribbean" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay International Sector | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "Americas" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay International Sector | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 5. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "Europe" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay International Sector | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 8. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "Asia" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay International Sector | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 9. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  18. ↑ "Oceania" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay International Sector | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 10. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  19. ↑ "Australian Capital Territory" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 3. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  20. ↑ "New South Wales" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 4. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  21. ↑ "Tasmania" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 5. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  22. ↑ "Victoria" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 6. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  23. ↑ "South Australia" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 7. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  24. ↑ "Western Australia" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 10. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "Northern Territory" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. p. 11. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  26. ↑ "Queensland" (PDF). Queen's Baton Relay | Celebration Communities Fact Sheet | Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games. CGF. pp. 12–15. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  27. ↑ Howcroft, Jonathan; Howcroft, Jonathan (4 April 2018). "Commonwealth Games 2018 opening ceremony – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  28. ↑ "The Prince of Wales's Address at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2018 | Prince of Wales". www.princeofwales.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  29. ↑ Australia, Tourism (28 January 2020). "Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games". www.tourism.australia.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  30. ↑ "Proud supporter of the Queen's Baton Relay". qsuper.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  31. ↑ "The Queen's Baton Relay of the 2018 Commonwealth Games began its journey | Longines®". www.longines.co.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
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