Queen’s Baton begins tour of Guyana
By Treiston Joseph
With the Commonwealth Games set for Australia in 2018, the Queen’s Baton, as is customary, has been on its tour around the globe, finally arriving in Guyana on Tuesday (August 8).
It was the 143rd day of the worldwide tour, which started on March 13 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II placed her message to the Commonwealth athletes within the Baton at Buckingham Palace before heralding the start of the relay.
President David Granger started the route at State House at 08:00h before the Baton made its way across the city. The Baton was passed to a number of high ranking officials, among them Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Education Nicolette Henry and British High Commissioner Greg Quinn.
All sport disciplines involved in the Commonwealth Games were a part of the relay, with President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K.A. Juman Yassin, ensuring the Baton made its way safely around the route.
It was a glorious morning with members of the public flashing photos along the route that ended at the Square of the Revolution with the final leg being ran by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.
The Baton will remain in Guyana until August 11 before leaving for the next leg of the tour in Falkland Islands.