It is less than one month until the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay will be in Devizes as part of its final journey through England this summer, leading up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Queen's Baton Relay is a Games tradition that aims to celebrate, connect and excite communities across the Commonwealth in the build up to the Games. The Relay began on 7 October 2021 at Buckingham Palace when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. The Baton will have been travelling for a total 294 days and has visited all nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
The final leg of the Queen's Baton Relay will give communities across England the chance to experience the buzz and excitement for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of showstopping sport get even closer. Devizes will officially welcome the Queen's Baton Relay on Tuesday 5 July. The Queen's Baton Relay will culminate in the host city of Birmingham, where it will have a central role in the Opening Ceremony on 28 July 2022.
During its time in Devizes, the Queen's Baton Relay will begin the first leg of the day, starting in the Market Place at 8am, and taking a journey through the town on a horse drawn dray towards the canal. where it will travel by canal boat down to Caen Hill Locks.
Members of the public are encouraged to come along and watch the Baton Relay, get involved with the celebrations and experience the buzz of Birmingham 2022 in their community. Spectating opportunities will be provided at Market Place and along the canal towpath.
Conservative Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said,
With less than a month to go until the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay comes to Wiltshire, preparations are well under way to host this memorable event. We are honoured to have been chosen to be one of the communities to receive a visit, and we look forward to welcoming the Batonbearers to Devizes.
We hope to see lots of members of the public in the Market Place and lining the canal path to see the Baton travel through Devizes on the morning of Tuesday 5 July, and to get involved in the celebrations.
Cllr Peter Corbett, Devizes Town Mayor said,
We are very excited that the Queen's Baton Relay will be coming to Devizes on the 5 July. It will give our community an amazing opportunity to experience the buzz of the country, as our sports men and women prepare to join with those across the Commonwealth for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
We have worked closely with the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee, who have led on the development and delivery of the England leg of the Queens Baton Relay and although it may be an early start, we hope members of our community come and see the Baton as it visits the only town in Wiltshire.
Thousands of Batonbearers, will have the honour of carrying the Baton during the journey through England, including those nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community, whether that be in sport, education, the arts, culture or charity.
One of the Devizes Batonbearers is Thelma Edwards, who was nominated for her voluntary work with the Canal & River Trust. Thelma has worked to develop new attractions and projects to ensure the charity reaches out to young people, creating a junior lock keeper project to give young people experience of looking after the canal. Thelma will be taking the Baton along the canal.
For more information on the Devizes event, visit www.devizes-tc.gov.uk.
For more information on the Queen's Baton Relay, visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr.
