PREPARATIONS are underway for The Queen’s Baton Relay arrival in Worcester – and there are plenty of vantage points for all to watch the Batonbearers carry it through the city.
The baton will arrive in Worcester at around 5.30pm on Friday (July 22) as part of the build-up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The relay will begin at The Cross, moving through High Street, past the Guildhall, to Cathedral Square and to the main entrance of the Cathedral. From there it will go past College Green and down to Riverside.
It will be carried across the Severn on a dragon boat, leaving King’s Boathouse at around 5.55pm for the Swan Sanctuary Steps, before heading on to Bromwich Parade, Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s New Road ground and then to Cripplegate Park, the University Arena and Sabrina Bridge.
From Sabrina Bridge, the Baton will be taken to Worcester Racecourse, then on to Castle Street and finally to the University of Worcester’s City Campus, where it is expected to arrive at around 6.45pm.
Among the best places for visitors and residents to stand to watch the Baton travel through the city are High Street, the Riverside, Hylton Road and Worcester Racecourse.
Mayor of Worcester, Coun Adrian Gregson, said: “We’re very excited that our city is to be part of The Queen’s Baton Relay route and hope that residents and visitors alike will turn out to watch the Batonbearers carry the Baton through Worcester.
“I hope we can recreate the excitement we felt when the Olympic Torch came through the city ten years ago.”
Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay has been a tradition.
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on October 7, when Her Majesty the Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Batonbearers to carry the Baton.
Since then, the Baton has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Americas and the Caribbean.
For more information on the Queen’s Baton Relay, visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr.
