En route to the 2022 Commonwealth Games this summer, the Cayman Islands officially welcomed the Queen’s Baton on Monday, 11 April, as part of the Queen’s 16th Baton Relay.
The baton toured both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac during the two-day stop.
The Queen’s Baton relay began in October last year at Buckingham Palace as part of a 294-day journey to all 72 Commonwealth countries, before arriving in Birmingham, England which is hosting the games, set for 28 July to 8 Aug.
The relay is held as a symbol of the “ unity and diversity of the Commonwealth of Nations”, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Sports. The relay, which first took place in 1958, “symbolises the gathering of people from across the Commonwealth at the festival of sport and culture”, according to the ministry.
As part of the Grand Cayman tour, the baton relay started at the Government Administration Building, then was taken to Heroes Square and other landmarks and schools.
Local athletes – some of whom will be representing Cayman at the Commonwealth Games – carried the baton on its trip, which included stops from the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park to the Cayman Turtle Centre.
The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee coordinated the Cayman part of the relay.
After the local journey, the baton was scheduled to travel to Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The relay then will continue on from the Caribbean to Canada, Gibraltar, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and finally, for the last 25 days, the baton will be carried across England before arriving in the Birmingham for the opening ceremony, where the final bearer will return the baton to the Queen.
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