In 1958 the Queen’s Baton Relay became a feature in the leadup to each Commonwealth Games.
The relay begins at Buckingham Palace where the Queen hands over her game’s message, enclosed in a specially designed silver-gilt Baton, to two relay runners. The Baton is carried to every participating country, and in 2014 at the games in Glasgow the message will be read out.
The Baton arrived on Norfolk Island today (Sunday 22nd December) on board the Air New Zealand flight from the island of Niue via Auckland. And yes, that does mean Norfolk Island participates in the Commonwealth Games! It is a tradition we hope will continue.
The Commonwealth Games representatives and the Baton were welcomed at the airport by the Chief Minister, the Hon. Lisle Snell, and relayed by members of NI Amateur Sports, and members of the community, to Burnt Pine.
On Monday the Baton will be taken to Mt Pitt for a photo shoot at the highest point of the island, before leaving for Vanuatu via Sydney in the early afternoon.
Here are some photos from the relay in Burnt Pine today.