Lahore, December 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):CGA Pakistan held a media briefing here today (26 December, 2021) regarding programme of Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay in Pakistan. Lt. Gen (R) Syed Arif Hasan, President CGA Pakistan and Mr. Martin Dawson, British Acting Deputy High Commissioner were present at the occasion.
The briefing was attended by number of journalists of media groups and electronic channels. Besides officials of Sindh Olympic Association (the provincial chapter of CGA Pakistan), the Presidents and Secretaries of various National Sports Federations were also present in the briefing.
The media was informed that the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton has arrived in Pakistan, reaching the 23rd destination out of the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories. The Queen’s Baton, which carries a message from Her Majesty The Queen, arrived in Pakistan as part of its journey for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in England from 28 July until 8 August 2022.
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay started at Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, when Her Majesty The Queen placed her Message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist and Team England athlete Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Batonbearers to carry the Baton through the Commonwealth.
The 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres. For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will complete its journey at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022. This is a traditional and fundamental part of the Games and the Opening Ceremony, as the final Batonbearer will pass the Baton back to The Queen. The Queen’s message to the Commonwealth will then be removed from the Baton and read aloud, marking the official start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton is in Pakistan for 03 days and during it’s time here, it will be carried by Batonbearers, including current and legacy athletes including M/s. Jahangir Khan, World Championship (Squash Legend), Hassan Sardar and Rasheed ul Hassan (Hockey World Champion and Olympian). The baton will be also carried by M/s Muhammad Inam, World Beach Wrestling Championship, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist as well as Olympian Arshad Nadeem, Talha Talib, Commonwealth Medallist and Mahoor Shahzad.
A welcome ceremony will be held at British Deputy High Commission, Karachi premises on 27 December, 2021 at 1430 hours to formally handover the Baton to President CGA Pakistan by the Deputy High Commissioner, UK. The Baton will also visit at the following places:
Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) on 28 December 2021
A ceremony will be arranged on 28 December, 2021 at 0930 hours where the students and the athletes of the SMIU will exchange and relay the Baton. The Baton will also visit to the “Jinnah Museum” followed by plantation at the University premises.
The celebrations of the Queen’s Baton at the Sindh Madressatul Islam are arranged being School of founding father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The Quaid was the one who elevated SMI from the status of a school to a college in 1943. On that eve, he bequeathed/donated his one-third property to SMI and reminisced his time spent at SMI as a student between 1887 and 1892.
Visit to Mazar-e-Quaid – Tuesday 28 December 2021
The Baton will visit Mazar-e-Quaid on 28 December, 2021 at 1330 hours where the international medallists, athletes, youngsters and officials of the various sports associations will exchange and relay the Baton. The celebration at Mazar-e-Quaid is significant being resting place of the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and a symbol of the city of Karachi. The mausoleum complex also has a tomb of ‘Mother of the Nation’ Fatima Jinnah (Quaid e Azam’s sister), and also the graves of first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan.
Visit of Karachi Grammar School, Karachi – Wednesday 29 December 2021
A ceremony will be arranged on 29 December, 2021 at 1000 hours where the International Medallists, students and the athletes of the KGS will exchange and relay the Baton.
Karachi Grammar School is the oldest private school of Pakistan carrying a heritage of over 170 years starting 1847. The school was formally constituted by Sir Henry Bartle Frere as the Karachi European and Indo-European school. It was named Karachi Grammar School in 1879.
Visit of Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar Park (Kakri Ground) – Wednesday 29 December 2021
The Baton will visit Kakri Ground on 29 December 2021 where the youngsters, athletes and community
representatives will exchange and relay the Baton.
The venue has been selected due to its unique culture and to celebrate the Baton with the promising community having a long history of producing world class athletes. In fact this event is a humble effort of CGA Pakistan to recognized the contribution of Olympian and international medallist of the Asia and Commonwealth including Mr. Husain Shah and many others.
President CGA Pakistan, Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan HI(M) (Retd) said: “It is fantastic to have the Baton arrive in Pakistan today. Its arrival signifies an exciting moment in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and I’m really looking forward to the various visits and activities during its time here.”
Acting Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Martin Dawson expressed “we are very happy that Queen Baton has arrived at Karachi. The participation of youth, athletes and community in the celebration of Queens Baton in Karachi in encouraging and we are satisfied that arrangements made by the CGA Pakistan and Sindh Government will make this event a memorable one. The T-Shirts of Batonbearers and organizers were also unveiled on the occasion.
For more information, contact:
Pakistan Olympic Association
Olympic House, 2-Hameed Nizami (Temple) Road,
Lahore, Pakistan
Postal Code: 54000
Phone: +92-42-36280002, +92-42-36373753
Email: info@nocpakistan.org
Website: https://nocpakistan.org/