Queen’s Baton Relay Completes Visit to Papua New Guinea

01st February 2022: The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay completed its visit to Papua New Guinea, the 31st country out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories it is visiting. 

The Baton was taken to Wewak on Saturday, 29th of January and was officially welcomed by, PNG Commonwealth Games Association President and Honorary Life Member of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Sir John Dawanincura, East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird and the British High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Keith Scott. 

The Baton spent 3 days in the country and left our shores on Tuesday 01st February 2022. 

During its time in Papua New Guinea, the Queen’s Baton Relay and PNG Commonwealth Games Association (PNGCGA) took part in various activities and festivities hosted by East Sepik Governor and the people of East Sepik, including a special visit to Kreer Heights, mausoleum of the founding Prime Minister of PNG and one of the longest serving Parliamentarian in the Commonwealth, the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare. 

The Baton also paid a courtesy visit to Kambaramba, in East Sepik to highlight how the local people practice sustainability and look after their local river eco-systems and natural habitats as part of their community’s local preservation and ‘go green’ knowledge and initiatives, which has been practiced for generations in this part of Papua New Guinea.

In Wewak town, The Queen’s Baton Relay celebrated the youth in sports and sustainable activities, journeys that the notable Game Changers and leaders have taken to alleviate social issues impeding on national development aspirations and foster conversations and stories to bring common good and peace, unity and prosperity to advance developments and growth in sports, health, education and agriculture.
Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay has been a tradition for the Commonwealth Games. 

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay started at Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, when Her Majesty The Queen placed her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. 

PNG Commonwealth Games Association President, Sir John Dawanincura said “I am filled with pride that Papua New Guinea had the opportunity to host the Queen’s Baton Relay and be part of this momentous journey. Not only did it give us the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of being Papua New Guinean but it represents the coming together of communities across the whole of the Commonwealth.” 

Sir John further said “We have relished in the opportunity to commemorate our community’s part in the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay. Everyone here has had a great time taking part in all the activities and supporting our local champions, as they represent Papua New Guinea as Batonbearers.” 

The Baton will now travel to Solomon Islands to continue in its journey touring the other Commonwealth nations and territories in the build up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 

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. 

The Queen’s Baton Relay will complete its journey at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022. 

This is a traditional and fundamental part of the Games and the Opening Ceremony, as the final Batonbearer will pass the Baton back to The Queen. 

The Queen’s message to the Commonwealth will then be removed from the Baton and read aloud, marking the official start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. 
 

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