Where to see the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay when it visits Walsall

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Walsall on Saturday 23 July on its way to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the end of the month.

To mark the occasion Walsall Council is organising events at Walsall Gala Swimming and Fitness Centre and Walsall Arboretum.

From noon Walsall Gala Swimming and Fitness will be hosting an Aquatics day where young people can come and take part in a free learn to swim session or have a go at diving and artistic swimming. This will be followed by a spectacular display by Walsall Artistic Swimming Club. The highlight of the display will be the arrival of the Queen’s Baton relay around 17:50pm. Taking part in the display will be GB International Robyn Swat man, who is currently National Junior and Senior Champion for Artistic Swimming. Members of the public can book free children’s tasters and spectator tickets through the Walsall Leisure website.

From 4.00 pm a Community Festival is being held in Walsall Arboretum with many sports clubs providing ‘come and try it’ activities and entertainment provided by music and dance groups. Many Commonwealth Games sports will be available, including gymnastics, athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, hockey and cycling. There will also be football, running clubs, Aikido, table tennis, canoeing on the lake, gym equipment and live classes provided by the council’s leisure services team. The Queen’s Baton Relay will arrive around 6.15 pm and be relayed throughout the Arboretum by 12 Baton bearers. 

One of them is Michael Elwell, from Darlaston, who has been a dedicated volunteer of Walsall Arboretum parkrun since it began in 2012. Michael and his wife Ursula have become the welcoming face of the 5km run and help set up and take down the course each Saturday and have both managed to achieve the huge milestone of running 500 parkruns.

Residents are encouraged to attend the afternoon community festival and stay for the arrival of The Queen’s Baton and line the route along the Arboretum paths to cheer on the Baton bearers. The route will begin at 6.17 pm at the Grange car park off Broadway North, passing the trim trail and play area, before entering the historic Victorian core of the park. From here it will pass in front of the bandstand and clock tower, finishing on centre green by the visitor centre at 6.44 pm. Celebrations will continue into the evening on centre green with food, drink and entertainment.

Tully will be the last Walsall Baton bearer of the day.

~ENDS~

Note to Editor

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay page — www.birmingham2022.com/qbr

Walsall’s Commonwealth Cultural Festival

https://www.birmingham2022.com/festival

Booking free tickets for the artistic swimming display and free children’s tasters

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The Queen’s Message

• The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Games tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games
• Birmingham 2022 is staging the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay
• The Relay began on 7 October 2021 at Buckingham Palace, when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton
• The Baton is travelling for a total of 294 days and will visit all nations and territories of the Commonwealth
• The epic journey aims to embrace culture; ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration; and share stories that inspire others to take on challenges.

About the England route:

• This summer, the Queen’s Baton Relay will return to the host nation for a tour of each region of England  
• The final leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay will give communities across England the chance to experience the buzz and excitement for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of show-stopping sport get even closer
• The England route began in London on 2 June, coinciding with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
• The Baton returns to England on 4 July for a 25-day tour of the country
• The Queen’s Baton Relay will culminate in the host city of Birmingham, where it will take a central role in the Opening Ceremony on 28 July 2022

• Baton bearers were nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community and being an inspiration to others.

About the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games:

• The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022 and will be part of an incredible summer of sport
• Birmingham 2022 is the biggest event that the West Midlands has ever staged and the biggest sporting event to be held in the UK since London 2012
• The Games will have 19 sports with 8 para sports integrated into the programme – the biggest Commonwealth para sports programme ever