’’Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay of the XXI Commonwealth Games to portray positive image of Pakistan’’
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad; Pakistan is ready to welcomes and celebrate the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay of the XXI Commonwealth Games. The ‘Queen’s Baton’ of the Commonwealth Games celebrations in Pakistan will portray a soft image of the country. Queen’s Baton will be arrived in Pakistan via Lahore on September 29 from Cyprus and will remain in the country for four days and its presence will help in developing a positive image of the country ideal for all kind of international sports events and activities. A colorful welcomes reception was hosted in this regards by the Australian High Commissioner H.E.Ms, Margaret Adamson at her Residence in Islamabad. The federal minister for IPC, provincial sports ministers, presidents of Pakistanis’ sports federations and prominent sports personalities, legends were among the guests. The Queen’s Baton carries a message from Queen Elizabeth-II that calls the Commonwealth’s athletes to come together in peaceful and friendly competition. The GC2018 Relay will be the longest and the most accessible ever, not just passing through, but spending quality time in each community it visit. In total, it will visit 71 countries, covering 200,000 miles (321,868km) in 388 days, before arriving in Australia’s Gold Coast for the games. Commonwealth Games will be held from April 4 to April 11.2018 at Gold Cost, Australia. Pakistan Olympic Association already announced programmes to mark the arrival and stay of Queen’s Baton in Pakistan which is a historic moment in country’s sports.
Queen’s Baton relay is an integral part of the Commonwealth Games and it travels through all the participating countries and its historic journey commences from Buckingham palace. The Baton will leave for India on 4th October 2017. To highlighting the features of Queen’s Baton relay ceremony a four member team, carrying the baton, will be received at Allama Iqbal Airport, Lahore. The 2018 Commonwealth Games, which will see participation from 70 countries, will be held in Gold Coast, Australia, in April 2018. The baton relay is similar to the Olympic Torch Relay and it has already been carried to 50 countries before Pakistan following which it will be taken to Bangladesh and eventually reaching the host country on December 24, 2017.Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay of the XXI Commonwealth Games welcome ceremony will be held tomorrow (September 29) at a local hotel and the baton will be handed over to Gen Arif president POA.
On October 2 the baton will be brought to the famous Hazuri Bagh Lahore in front of Lahore fort for the replay programme, which will be attended by former Olympians, legends of Pakistan sports. On Commonwealth Day on March 13, 2017, the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace, signaling the official countdown to the start of the Games. The 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay is the longest in the history of the Commonwealth Games and will cover a distance of approximately 2,30,000 km in 388 days, will traverse through the Commonwealth regions of Asia, Australia, Africa and others. After reaching Australia in December, it will be carried across the host country for 100 days till the Games start on April 4, 2018.Calling it a proud occasion for the state as the Queen’s Baton is being taken to only a few states in the country. Pakistani sportsmen have won medals in previous editions of the Games and baton programme would help in glorifying the achievements of the home stalwarts besides highlighting the history of the Games. Last time the Queen’s Baton came to Islamabad was during the 2010Commonwealth Games. This is indeed a proud moment for us since this would be brought to Pakistan.
