British High Commission welcomes the Glasgow 2014 Baton to Brunei
The British High Commission and Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council welcomed the Baton to Brunei at the High Commissioner's Residence
His Royal Highness Prince Sufri with the Baton
On Monday 28 October 2013, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council, consented to receive the Glasgow 2014 Baton from the representatives of the 20th Glasgow Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay Team at a welcoming event hosted by the British High Commissioner, His Excellency David Campbell at his Residence.
Also present at the event were Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Mulia Datin Paduka Hjh Adina binti Hj Othman; Commonwealth Heads of Mission in Brunei; officials of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports; and members of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council.
In his welcoming speech H.E. David Campbell said, “We are honoured by the presence here today of His Royal Highness Prince Sufri to receive the Commonwealth Baton. We are grateful to His Royal Highness and to the BDNOC and MCYS for arranging such an excellent programme for the Baton’s visit to Brunei Darussalam. I know that the Bruneian schools taking part in Tuesday’s relay event are doing so with great enthusiasm. We look forward to maintaining close links between Bruneian and UK schools through the ‘Support a 2nd Team programme’ in the run up to next July’s Glasgow Games, where we wish the Brunei Darussalam National Team every success.”
The British High Commissioner then invited the representatives of the 20th Glasgow Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay Team to present and handover the baton to His Royal Highness Prince Sufri, who has consented to lead the Relay on Tuesday morning scheduled to start at the new Prime Minister’s Office and organised by the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council. The Queen’s Baton Relay leg in Brunei will pass through 12 schools before ending its final leg at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
Louis Rosa from the Queen's Baton Relay Team hands over the Baton to His Royal Highness Prince Sufri
His Royal Highness Prince Sufri and His Excellency David Campbell with the Baton
His Royal Highness Prince Sufri with Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Adina and Commonwealth Heads of Missions in Brunei
The Queen’s Baton Relay is the world’s most engaging relay, a unique tradition of the Games that unites the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a unique and dynamic opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to connect with all of nations and territories of the Commonwealth, sharing the excitement and opportunities of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games as well as our culture, creativity and enterprise.
In conjunction with the Queen’s Baton Relay, the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with Common Purpose has announced the launch of 33Fifty, an exciting new youth leadership programme that will take place in Glasgow directly before the 2014 Commonwealth Games. They are using the Queen’s Baton Relay to promote the programme. A beautifully illustrated book, produced by De La Rue, is accompanying the baton along the route. The book is intended to serve as a symbol of Commonwealth citizenship and one young person from every country/territory will be invited to write a personal message in the book about a challenge within the Commonwealth they believe needs to be addressed. The book will be presented to participants at the beginning of the 33Fifty.
Cassandra Woo explaining the 33Fifty initiative to His Royal Highness Prince Sufri
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports nominated Cassandra Cornelia Woo Chai Sia from the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College wrote her personal message in the book, stressing that communication between young people was a crucial tool in addressing the challenges faced by the Commonwealth. Cassandra then had the opportunity to explain the initiative to His Royal Highness Prince Sufri and talk about the message she had written in the book.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay is the curtain-raiser to the XX Commonwealth Games and was launched by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, 9 October 2013 where Her Majesty placed Her message to the Commonwealth into the baton. The Queen’s message is the Baton’s the visual core, illuminated but unreadable until the Opening Ceremony. The Baton is a unique object specially-designed for Glasgow 2014 in Scotland. The titanium, wood and granite creation symbolises Glasgow and Scotland’s culture, history and innovation by combining leading-edge technology with traditional skills and craft.
Over a period of 288 days the baton will visit 70 nations and territories, cover 190,000 kilometres and involve a third of the world’s population, making it the world’s most engaging relay. Magical memories will be created on this journey across continents, terrains and time zones. From Sydney Harbour Bridge to the forests of Rwanda; from Pacific Islands to the Rocky Mountains of Canada, the baton will showcase each nation and territory in the Commonwealth.
The finish line is in the host nation Scotland just in time for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow, where Her Majesty The Queen will read aloud Her message to the Commonwealth.
For more photographs from the event, visit the UK in Brunei Flickr page here.