The Queen’s Baton Relay has arrived in Karachi this week as it continues its global journey around the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories before concluding at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022.
A welcome ceremony was hosted yesterday by the Deputy British High Commission, Karachi to officially hand over the Queen’s Baton to the President of the Commonwealth Games Association.
The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres. For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days.
Whilst in Pakistan the Baton will be carried by Pakistani squash legend Jahangir Khan, and Muhammad Inam, World Beach Wrestling Champion and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner, said:
Birmingham, the baton’s final destination, has one of the largest Pakistani diaspora in the UK. With the 75th anniversary of our relations and the Commonwealth, this is another important milestone in UK-Pakistan relations.
The Baton Relay has been an essential part of the Commonwealth Games for over 60 years and celebrates communities from across the Commonwealth during the run up to the Games. It ignites hope, solidarity, and collaboration as it connects communities embracing unique cultures and inspires the next generation of sporting heroes.
The Commonwealth Games bring nations together in a colourful celebration of sport and human performance. But the Games have evolved dramatically since its beginnings in 1930. Held every four years, with a hiatus during World War II, the Games have grown from featuring 11 countries and 400 athletes, to a global spectacle of 6,600 sports men and women from across 72 nations and territories.
The Baton will eventually return home to Birmingham next summer, before completing its journey at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022.
The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.
Birmingham 2022 will welcome 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories for 11 days of spectacular sport, from 28 July – 8 August 2022.
Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com.
Full schedule of the Queen’s Baton Relay international route going forward:
Nation / Territory
Arrival date
Pakistan
27 December 2021
Maldives
1 January 2022
Sri Lanka
4 January 2022
Bangladesh
7 January 2022
India
12 January 2022
Singapore
17 January 2022
Malaysia
22 January 2022
Brunei
26 January 2022
Papua New Guinea
30 January 2022
Solomon Islands
2 February 2022
Nauru
5 February 2022
Fiji
13 February 2022
Samoa
16 February 2022
Tonga
19 February 2022
Vanuatu
22 February 2022
Kiribati
25 February 2022
Tuvalu
28 February 2022
Niue
3 March 2022
Cook Islands
6 March 2022
Norfolk Island
9 March 2022
New Zealand
12 March 2022
Australia
17 March 2022
Belize
23 March 2022
Guyana
26 March 2022
Grenada
30 March 2022
The Bahamas
3 April 2022
Turks & Caicos
7 April 2022
Cayman Islands
12 April 2022
Jamaica
15 April 2022
Trinidad & Tobago
19 April 2022
Barbados
23 April 2022
Montserrat
26 April 2022
Dominica
29 April 2022
British Virgin Islands
3 May 2022
St. Kitts & Nevis
6 May 2022
Anguilla
9 May 2022
Antigua & Barbuda
13 May 2022
St. Lucia
16 May 2022
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
19 May 2022
Bermuda
22 May 2022
Canada
26 May 2022
Gibraltar
31 May 2022
Falkland Islands
7 June 2022
Jersey
10 June 2022
Guernsey
13 June 2022
Isle of Man
16 June 2022
Scotland
18 June 2022
Northern Ireland
24 June 2022
Wales
29 June 2022
England
4 July 2022