The run-up to the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games has officially begun with the Queen’s Baton Relay passing through Asia and Oceania. There is just over a week left to get involved, as Jennifer McLaren discovers.
The biggest sporting event to visit Scotland is less than a year away and time is running out to nominate worthy batonbearers for the final leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay.
Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow 2014 need to find up to 4,000 people to carry the baton on its 40-day journey throughout Scotland next year before the event opens on July 23. Members of the public are therefore being urged to nominate inspirational people who make a difference to their communities, by 5pm on Friday November 22.
An average of 100 batonbearers will carry the baton on a daily basis and each individual segment is approximately 200 metres.
Participants must be UK citizens or have permission to reside in the UK and be 12 years of age or older at the date of their nomination. Those between the ages of 12 and 15 will require consent from a parent or guardian to participate.
It is also important to have consent from the person being nominated along with their current email address, so they can be contacted if they are chosen.
Those nominating will be asked to write in 100 words or less the reasons why they consider their nominee meets one or more of the selection criteria. This information will be considered by a judging panel in selecting the successful nominations for each local authority area.
While the Commonwealth Games is a sporting event, batonbearers don’t necessarily have to be sporty. The criteria includes: having undertaken voluntary work or contributed to schools or youth organisations, contributed towards greater inclusion for disadvantaged or marginalised sectors of the community, making a positive contribution to the lives of others through community sport and displaying a level of individual achievement against the odds.
The QBR was launched at Buckingham Palace on October 9 and is now on a 190,000km, 248-day international journey through all 70 nations and territories throughout the Commonwealth before it arrives in Scotland on June 14 2014.
Yesterday, the baton was on the island of Nauru in the South Pacific and travels next to Tuvalu. It has already passed through India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, describes the QBR as “a beautiful and history-making piece of Glasgow and Scotland currently travelling the globe”.
He says: “The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton hand-crafted in Glasgow from elm and titanium has crossed continents, been through rainforests and at the top of skyscrapers. When it arrives back home next June, there will be a very special band of people helping it make the final stage of its journey to the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
“For 40 days the baton will make its way through the length and breadth of Scotland, visiting communities of every size and scale, sharing the sense of excitement and anticipation in the build-up to the biggest sporting and cultural festival ever hosted here in Scotland.”
Mr Grevemberg adds that nominees could be anything from a sports coach, young athlete or volunteer worker to an inspirational teacher or someone who has achieved remarkable things against the odds.
“People have until November 22 to tell us about the loved ones, neighbours, strangers or friends they would like to see honoured and playing their part in this moment in Scotland’s story.”
People have until 5pm on November 22 to nominate their own local champion to be a batonbearer. Visit www.glasgow2014.com/queens-baton-relay/pass-baton.