Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in Bangladesh
Queen’s Baton Relay for the 20th Commonwealth Games arrives in Bangladesh. British High Commissioner hosts the official reception.
QBR arrives in Bangladesh
On 14 October, the Queen’s Baton Relay arrived in Bangladesh on the second leg of its 71 country trip around all nations and territories of the Commonwealth. It was met at Hazrat Shahjahal International Airport by a delegation led by Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Muhammad Faruk Khan before being taken on a road relay and arriving at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Dhaka for an official reception in its honour.
The baton carries a message from The Queen as Head of the Commonwealth, which she will read aloud at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on 23 July 2014.
British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson hosted the official reception. Guests included the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Olympic Association Syed Shahed Reza and Vice Chair of Glasgow 2014 Louise Martin, as well as Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan as Chief Guest.
Robert Gibson said:
“I am delighted that the people of Bangladesh are among the first in the world to see the baton. The baton embodies Glasgow and Scotland’s culture, history and innovation in its design and construction. Glasgow today has reinvented itself as a vibrant and dynamic city, yet its links with Bangladesh remain strong. Both the ubiquitous Singer sewing machines and Coates, the largest supplier of threads to Bangladesh’s garment industry, trace their roots back to Glasgow.”
“The baton is a symbolic invitation to Commonwealth nations and territories to attend the Games. The Commonwealth brings together a diverse range of countries, people and cultures from all corners of the globe to tackle challenges such as promoting democracy and human rights, climate change and prosperity. Its Charter is a clear demonstration of our commitment to implement our shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Games will allow us all to promote these values, which are essential for a civilised society where every individual is free and equal.”
The Queen’s Baton Relay was launched by The Queen on 9 October at Buckingham Palace and first visited India, the host nation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It leaves Bangladesh on 16 October for Pakistan. It is a tradition of the games that unites the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. It is also a unique and dynamic opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland to connect with all nations and territories of the Commonwealth, sharing the excitement and opportunities of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games as well as their culture, creativity and enterprise.
The baton was 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. The Queen’s message is the Baton’s visual core, illuminated but unreadable until the opening ceremony.
Notes to editors
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The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will be held from 23 July to 3 August. It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show. The Games will play host to 4500 athletes and sell 1,000,000 tickets with the event aided by an army of up to 15,000 local volunteers.
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The first Queen’s Baton Relay was staged for the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and has been the curtain raiser to the Games ever since. Over 248 days and 198,000km the Baton will visit all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth and be the first Baton ever to visit Rwanda.
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The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay Baton has been designed by award-winning 4c Design, a key contributor to Glasgow’s vibrant creative sector. Established in 2002 by two design graduates of The Glasgow School of Art, William Mitchell (Product Design) and Robin Smith (Product Design Engineering), it comprises expert designers, engineers and model-makers.
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Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF are working together in an exciting partnership that will transform the lives of children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth. Using the power of sport and culture this unique partnership aims to inspire, enable and empower the children of the Commonwealth to be the best they can be.
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Glasgow 2014 Ltd is the official name for the Organising Committee tasked with delivering the Games in partnership with the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and Commonwealth Games Scotland.
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To follow the baton visit www.glasgow2014.com/batonrelay.