Swansea To Feature In Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay

Swansea will feature in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay later this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Team Wales has announced that the Baton will set off from Swansea on Tuesday September 5, travelling to Bridgend and then onto Barry Island and Butetown in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The exact route in Swansea will be confirmed closer to the time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The 2018 Commonwealth Games, known as Gold Coast 2018, will take place on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, between April 4 and April 15 next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of Commonwealth Day celebrations on Monday March 13, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II set the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay in motion during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In total, the Baton will take a 388-day journey through the Commonwealth, covering 230,000 kilometres en route to its final destination at the Opening Ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “It’s very pleasing that Swansea will be on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay route. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Swansea has a proud tradition of taking part in events of this kind over the years, so the city’s inclusion on the route for the next Commonwealth Games will again help local people feel part of what’s sure to be a fantastic global sporting spectacle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Combining with many other sporting events taking place in the city over the next 12 months or so, the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay will further strengthen Swansea’s status as a leading city of sport.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chris Jenkins, Commonwealth Games Wales Chief Executive, said: “We’re extremely proud to announce this route today. Team Wales brings together all those competing or supporting our athletes to perform to their absolute best at the Commonwealth Games. This inclusive Relay will give everyone that can’t make it to the Gold Coast a chance to be involved in an unforgettable experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As the Baton travels through Wales, our aim is to celebrate our rich and diverse heritage, culture, language and landscape on an international stage. The first day of the Welsh route will see the Baton setting off from Swansea, travelling to our sponsor CGI’s offices in Bridgend and on to Barry Island and Butetown in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Day two takes us from Newport to Monmouth School, The Royal Mint in Llantrisant and ending up in Pontypridd. We head north for the third day, from Brecon to Rhayader, stopping at Llanidloes High School and Primary School and Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd in Newtown before heading through Welshpool and to Theatr Clwyd in Mold. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Finally, we head west and celebrate more of the beauty, culture and adventure we have to offer here in Wales: from Zip World in Blaenau Ffestiniog we then visit Yr Ysgwrn, Hedd Wyn’s childhood home in Trawsfynydd, before travelling through Dolgellau, Portmeirion and Porthmadog to the Baton’s final Welsh destination of Pwllheli.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Queen’s Baton Relay will also be passing through Llandinam, Dolwyddelan Castle, Beddgelert and Criccieth for photo stops along the route, which will not have a public event attached to them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​