The Queen’s Baton Relay has been exploring the Commonwealth for 100 days and in that time, the Baton has visited 26 nations and territories and spanned three continents. Let’s take a look back at the highlights from the first 100 days.

Batonbearers took the plunge into the Mediterranean Sea to visit the Museum of Underwater Sculptures. It contains 93 pieces of art, all made from a special steel and concrete combination that helps promote underwater life.

 

Children from the performance group Huruma Town Kids, based in Kenya, dressed up as The Queen and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, taking inspiration from the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay. Members of the group were Batonbearers, and all took part in a tree planting activity at the top of Ngong Hills in Nairobi.

The arrival into New Delhi was a special moment as the city previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The visit makes the Indian capital the first previous host city to receive a visit from the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay. The Baton even visited Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, where hockey matches were played in 2010.

The Relay’s route took the Baton to the towns of Bonwire and Ntonso, and to the workshops where Kente cloth and Adinkra Cloths are made, respectively. Beautifully and intricately made, both cloths have enormous cultural importance to Ghana.

 
For the first time for eight years, the Baton spent two action-packed days travelling around the volcanic island of St Helena. The Baton met Jonathan the tortoise, the oldest known living land animal, who is estimated to be at least 190 years old. This is not the first time he has been involved in the Relay as the Glasgow 2014 Relay also paid a visit to him. However, the Relay had never before reached Diana’s Peak, the highest point on the island. This year, Batonbearers took on the challenge and ascended the mountain as part of the route!

 
The Queen’s Baton Relay travelled to where North meets South in Uganda and visited the Equator line. At the landmark, the Baton was able to be in both of the world’s hemispheres at the same time, connecting it to all of the Commonwealth nations and territories.

 
The Relay reached Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and the world’s largest sheet of falling water. Brave Batonbearers took on swimming through Devil’s Pool, a natural rock pool right at the edge of the falls.

 
The Baton visited Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda, where one of the resident chimpanzees interacted with the Baton, which was supported by a stand, making the chimpanzee the first animal Batonbearer.

 
The Queen’s Baton Relay went sky high in Namibia, 10,000ft high to be exact! Charles Moore, British High Commissioner to Namibia, was joined by a professional team and skydived with the Baton and landed in Swakopmund where the activities continued. Music, fireworks, white sand beach – all the makings of a perfect New Year’s celebration! The Queen’s Baton Relay celebrated going into 2022, the year of the Games, in style.

Now as the Relay continues, everyone is looking forward to the Games beginning.

It’s now time to look forward to the next 194 days of Relay with upcoming visits to Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei.