Skip to main content

Queen launches Commonwealth Games relay as Durban pulls out of 2022

(L-R) Queen Elizabeth II and Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, and Anna Mears, the Australian cycling gold medallist,
as she is passed the relay baton during the launch of The Queen's Baton Relay for the XXI Commonwealth Games being held on the Gold Coast in 2018 at Buckingham Palace on March 13, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. [Photo/VCG]
Britain's Queen Elizabeth launched the 2018 Commonwealth Games baton relay on Monday as the South African city of Durban lost the right to host the 2022 edition of the multi-sport event.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the 2022 Games, the 90-year-old monarch started the countdown to next year's showpiece on the Gold Coast, Australia with a message of "respect and understanding" for others as part of a day of events commemorating the 52-country alliance.
The baton was given to Australia's double Olympic champion Anna Meares by Queen Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace, before being processed through Westminster Abbey by 2012 British Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis-Hill.
The theme of the Commonwealth Service was "a Peace-building Commonwealth."
"The cornerstones on which peace is founded are, quite simply, respect and understanding for one another," the Queen wrote in her Commonwealth Day message.
"Working together, we build peace by defending the dignity of every individual and community."
The baton will travel to Sierra Leone, before visiting all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth ahead of the tournament's opening ceremony on the Gold Coast, Queensland on April 4 next year.
Singer-songwriter Cody Simpson, who hails from the Gold Coast, performed at Monday's ceremony.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coronavirus: 'The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing'

"The worst bit is the uncontrollable coughing," says Andrew O'Dwyer, who is recovering after being infected with the new coronavirus following a skiing trip to Italy in late February. "I've had worse flu, without a doubt - but I wouldn't want to catch it again," he says during his self-isolation at home in south-west London. Despite having type 1 diabetes, Andrew says having the virus "isn't anything to worry about for me personally". He adds that the fever he experienced is "no different to normal flu-type symptoms". "I've not been concerned," he says. The severity of symptoms can vary widely among people. Those who are older and have pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) are more likely to become severely ill and can need hospital treatment. There have been 10 coronavirus-related deaths so far in the UK. Andrew was told the virus wasn't circulating in the resort ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cryptic-polific investment have been an investment platform where you make money online

I will teach how to earn money from your comfort zone. With a trusted PHP mining company. You can start with a minimum of 20$and earn a huge amount after 12h ours of your mining duration period of time. Join now and earn massively: https://www.google.com/search?q=site:crypto-polific.com
2 comments
Read more

THE MASCARENE PARROT

The Mascarene parrot was 35 cm (14 in) in length with a large red bill and long, rounded tail feathers. Its legs were red, and it had naked red skin around the eyes and nostrils. It had a black facial mask and partially white tail feathers, but the colouration of the body, wings and head is unclear. Descriptions from life indicate the body and head were ash grey, and the white part of the tail had two dark central feathers. In contrast, descriptions based on stuffed specimens state that the body was brown and the head bluish but do not mention the dark central tail feathers. This may be due to the specimens having changed colour as a result of aging and exposure to light, as well as other forms of damage. Very little is known about the bird in life. The Mascarene parrot was first mentioned in 1674, and live specimens were later brought to Europe, where they lived in captivity . The species was scientifically described in 1771. Only two stuffed specimens exist today, in Paris and Vienn...
Post a Comment
Read more