TEAM JERSEY officials are looking forward to offering a ‘different slant’ to proceedings when the 2022 Commonwealth Games baton arrives in the Island.
The state-of-the-art baton, which features an in-built camera, a GPS tracker and a heart-rate monitor, is due to spend two days touring Caesarean venues as it nears the end of a 72-nation journey around the world. A note contained inside, written by the Queen, will be read when the quadrennial event officially begins in Birmingham this summer.
Members of the Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey will be among those taking possession of the baton tomorrow, alongside school students and volunteers from a range of Island sports clubs.
Having been delivered direct from the Falklands, it will begin the Jersey leg of the global relay at Government House in the morning, with a presentation to the Lieutenant-Governor, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton.
‘It’s a great way to build up excitement for the Games. It’s starting to feel real,’ said CGAJ vice-president Morag Obarska.
‘We have a lot of athletes away but, for the ones who are here, it gives them an opportunity to focus on the Games as well as inspiring up-and-coming athletes. It raises the profile of the Commonwealth and what you can achieve.
‘We’re one of the last ones in a 72-country journey and I think it will be a great event. Everyone will be cheering and for the baton bearers; they will all be in bright pink-and-white shirts, which will get them into the team spirit.
‘Last time [for Gold Coast 2018] we focused on community projects and visited the Hospital, schools, the zoo. This time we have a different focus and it’s something we haven’t tried before. It gives a different slant.’
Following appearances at FB Fields and Samares Manor tomorrow, the baton will be transported around the Island by a variety of means on Saturday, including on the back of a bike, from Gorey to St Martin’s Village, across a raft of sea kayaks at Grève de Lecq and by rowing boat from the Gunsite to West Park.
