Queen’s Baton RelayInternational Sector

Gold Coast 2018XXI Commonwealth Games

Fact sheetWhen the Queen’s Baton arrives at the Opening Ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games™ (GC2018) on 4 April 2018, the entire Commonwealth will have been a part of the journey, giving everyone the opportunity to Share the Dream.

On an ambitious journey to connect with the modern and diverse Commonwealth of today, the GC2018 Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) will achieve two records – it will be the longest relay ever, and the most accessible relay to date.

The QBR has been the traditional curtain-raiser to the Commonwealth Games since the 1958 Games in Cardiff, Wales. The Queen’s Baton carries a message from Her Majesty The Queen, through all nations and territories as a call to the Commonwealth to come together in friendly competition at the Games.

It is the vision of the XXI Commonwealth Games to stage a great QBR that embraces the Commonwealth’s diversity, ignites community pride and excites the Commonwealth about the GC2018.

The Relay will start at Buckingham Palace on Monday 13 March 2017 – Commonwealth Day. At the commencement ceremony Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, will place Her message into the Baton and entrust its journey with the many batonbearers who will carry it around the Commonwealth.

Travelling for 388-days throughout all nations and territories, the Relay will be the longest in Commonwealth Games history.

Over the 288-day international sector, the Baton will spend between two and four days in each nation and territory, taking time to embrace every community it visits across Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The Baton will be the most accessible yet: not just passing through, but spending quality time in each Relay community. This will give more than one-third of the world’s population, the opportunity to have a memorable experience with the Baton and Share the Dream of the QBR and GC2018.

Although called a relay, running is not central to the QBR. Accessible and alternate modes of transport will carry the Baton on its journey throughout the Commonwealth, embracing the local culture and traditions of each nation and territory the Baton visits.

It is the aim of the GC2018 QBR to be the first relay to arrive in Saint Helena by plane; in previous relays the Baton has arrived on the RMS St Helena. In another first, the Baton will be present at the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG); The Bahamas will host the 2017 CYG from 19 to 23 July 2017 in the capital Nassau.

Showing leadership in sustainability is a priority for the GC2018 QBR, with consideration given to ensure the Relay leaves positive economic, environmental, social and community legacies.

Starting in Australia on 25 December 2017, the Relay will commence a 100-day domestic sector, concluding its journey at the Games Opening Ceremony. The final Batonbearer will return the Baton to Her Majesty The Queen (or Her Representative), where the message will be removed from the Baton and read aloud to officially open GC2018.

Please note: The information contained in the following pages is correct at the time of publication. Information may change due to circumstances outside of the control of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation.

Nation / Territory Arrive

1. Sierra Leone (from Buckingham Palace Launch)

Wed 15 Mar 2017

2. Ghana Sat 18 Mar 2017

3. Rwanda Wed 22 Mar 2017

4. Uganda Sat 25 Mar 2017

5. Cameroon Wed 29 Mar 2017

6. Nigeria Sat 1 Apr 2017

7. Kenya Wed 5 Apr 2017

8. United Republic of Tanzania Sat 8 Apr 2017

9. Seychelles Tue 11 Apr 2017

10. Mauritius Sat 15 Apr 2017

11. Malawi Thu 20 Apr 2017

12. Zambia Mon 24 Apr 2017

13. Namibia Thu 27 Apr 2017

Nation / Territory Arrive

14. Botswana Mon 1 May 2017

15. Mozambique Thu 4 May 2017

16. Swaziland Mon 8 May 2017

17. Lesotho Thu 11 May 2017

18. South Africa Mon 15 May 2017

19. Saint Helena (to the Caribbean) (refer Americas)

Sat 20 May 2017 32

Nation / Territory Arrive

20. Trinidad and Tobago (from Saint Helena) Sun 28 May 2017

21. Grenada Wed 31 May 2017

22. St Vincent and the Grenadines Sat 3 Jun 2017

23. Saint Lucia Wed 7 Jun 2017

24. Barbados Sat 10 Jun 2017

25. Dominica Wed 14 Jun 2017

26. Antingua and Barbuda Sat 17 Jun 2017

Nation / Territory Arrive

27. Montserrat Wed 21 Jun 2017

28. St Kitts and Nevis Sat 24 Jun 2017

29. Anguilla Wed 28 Jun 2017

30. British Virgin Islands Sat 1 Jul 2017

31. Jamaica Wed 5 Jul 2017

32. Turks and Caicos Islands Tue 11 Jul 2017

33. Cayman Islands (to the Americas) Fri 14 Jul 2017

Nation / Territory Arrive

19. Saint Helena (to the Caribbean) Sat 20 May 2017

34. The Bahamas (from the Cayman Islands) Tue 18 Jul 2017

35. Bermuda Mon 24 Jul 2017

36. Canada Thu 27 Jul 2017

37. Belize Wed 2 Aug 2017

38. Guyana Mon 7 Aug 2017

39. Falkland Islands (to Europe) Sat 12 Aug 2017 54

Nations, Territories and Regions

AFRICA

Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

AMERICAS

The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Falkland Islands, Guyana, Saint Helena

CARIBBEAN

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

EUROPE

Cyprus, England, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales

ASIA

Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka

OCEANIA

Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

International Sequence

Buckingham Palace Launch1. Sierra Leone2. Ghana3. Rwanda4. Uganda5. Cameroon6. Nigeria7. Kenya8. United Republic of Tanzania 9. Seychelles10. Mauritius11. Malawi

12. Zambia13. Namibia14. Botswana15. Mozambique16. Swaziland17 Lesotho18. South Africa19. Saint Helena20. Trinidad and Tobago21. Grenada22. St Vincent and the Grenadines23. Saint Lucia

24. Barbados25. Dominica26. Antigua and Barbuda27. Montserrat28. St Kitts and Nevis29. Anguilla30. British Virgin Islands31. Jamaica32. Turks and Caicos Islands33. Cayman Islands

34. The Bahamas35. Bermuda36. Canada37. Belize38. Guyana39. Falkland Islands40. England41. Scotland42. Northern Ireland43. Isle of Man44. Wales45. Guernsey46. Jersey

47. Gibraltar48. Malta49. Cyprus50. Pakistan51. India52. Bangladesh53. Sri Lanka54. Malaysia55. Brunei Darussalam56. Singapore57. Nauru58. Kiribati59. Niue

60. Cook Islands61. Tonga62. Fiji63. Samoa64. Tuvalu65. Vanuatu66. Solomon Islands67. Papua New Guinea68. Norfolk Island69. New Zealand70. Australia

18

7

14

14

10

7Nations and

territories per region

66

37

5144

33

55

Days in region

76

Nation / Territory Arrive

40. England (from the Americas) Wed 16 Aug 2017

41. Scotland Tue 22 Aug 2017

42. Northern Ireland Mon 28 Aug 2017

43. Isle of Man Fri 1 Sep 2017

44. Wales Mon 4 Sep 2017

Nation / Territory Arrive

45. Guernsey Sat 9 Sep 2017

46. Jersey Wed 13 Sep 2017

47. Gibraltar Sun 17 Sep 2017

48. Malta Thu 21 Sep 2017

49. Cyprus (to Asia) Mon 25 Sep 2017

Nation / Territory Arrive

50. Pakistan (from Europe) Fri 29 Sep 2017

51. India Tue 3 Oct 2017

52. Bangladesh Mon 9 Oct 2017

53. Sri Lanka Thu 12 Oct 2017

54. Malaysia Mon 16 Oct 2017

55. Brunei Darussalam Sat 21 Oct 2017

56. Singapore (to Oceania) Wed 25 Oct 2017 98

Nation / Territory Arrive

57. Nauru (from Asia) Wed 1 Nov 2017

58. Kiribati Fri 3 Nov 2017

59. Niue Tue 7 Nov 2017

60. Cook Islands Sat 11 Nov 2017

61. Tonga Thu 16 Nov 2017

62. Fiji Mon 20 Nov 2017

63. Samoa Thu 23 Nov 2017

Nation / Territory Arrive

64. Tuvalu Tue 28 Nov 2017

65. Vanuatu Fri 1 Dec 2017

66. Solomon Islands Wed 6 Dec 2017

67. Papua New Guinea Sat 9 Dec 2017

68. Norfolk Island Fri 15 Dec 2017

69. New Zealand Sun 17 Dec 2017

70. Australia (Domestic Sector) Sun 24 Dec 2017 1110

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