Queen's Baton Relay to visit University as part of world tour

The Queen's Baton Relay will pass through campus on Friday 25 August.

The University of Stirling will welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to campus next month as part of its global tour ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Hundreds of people – including staff, students and members of the public – are set to turn out for the procession, which will arrive at Stirling on the afternoon of Friday 25 August.

The Baton’s visit to campus will come seven months before Team Scotland – which is expected to include a number of Stirling students and athletes - flies to Australia’s Gold Coast for the 21^st Games.

The Relay began at Buckingham Palace in March and has since travelled through Africa, celebrating the Commonwealth’s diversity, inspiring community pride and building excitement ahead of the Games. It is currently in the Caribbean and, after moving through England, will arrive in Scotland for a five-day tour on 22 August.

Cathy Gallagher, Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “As part of the build up to next year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, we look forward to welcoming the Queen’s Baton Relay to Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence next month.

“The visit will allow staff and students, including members of Team Scotland who will be competing at next year’s Games, to join in the celebrations.

“The 2014 home games in Glasgow was a hugely memorable sporting occasion and hopefully we can generate the same levels of engagement and support for our athletes competing in Australia.”

Passion

A Games tradition, the Baton carries a message from the Queen calling for the Commonwealth’s athletes to come together in peaceful and friendly competition.

The 2018 Baton, inspired by Australia’s vibrant spirit and indigenous heritage, has a distinctive loop design and has been made using macadamia wood and reclaimed plastic, sourced from Gold Coast waterways.

The visit to the University will come on day four of the Relay’s tour of Scotland, which will take in much of the country, including Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Islay.

Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, said: “The public support Team Scotland enjoyed for Glasgow 2014 was phenomenal and I look forward to seeing that passion sparked once again, as the Baton’s journey through Scotland marks the final countdown to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.”