Time to name your local champion to carry the Queen's Baton across Scotland
Three of the batonbearers who helped launch the Queen’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace have urged people to name their own community champions to take part in this unique event.
Commonwealth Games Scotland and Glasgow 2014 need up to 4,000 inspirational people – those who make a difference to their communities - to carry the baton on its 40-day journey through Scotland next year.
Until 22 November anyone can nominate their own local champions to be batonbearers. To be a batonbearer, people are required to:
• Be 12 years old or older at the date of nomination
• Have made a positive contribution to the lives of others through community sport
• Undertaken voluntary work or contributed to schools or youth organisations
• Contributed towards greater inclusion for disadvantaged or marginalised sectors of the community
• Been a role model or mentor to youth through sport
• Displayed a level of individual achievement against the odds
• Made a significant contribution to their local community
Izzy Conway, Aamir Mehmood and Julie McElroy, had the honour of being among the first batonbearers to take part in the Queen’s Baton Relay.
Glasgow 2014 Clyde-sider, Izzy, said: “It was such an emotional feeling and the whole day was a highlight. My son Richard was in the front row cheering me on and when I reached the end of my 200 metre stint I didn’t want to let go of the baton. I was chosen as a thank you for all the volunteering I’ve done over the years for a variety of charities.”
Julie McElroy, who has tried out all 17 of the Commonwealth sports, said:
“I would urge the public to nominate those who have inspired them through life. I was chosen to be a batonbearer as a thank you for the work I’ve been doing promoting awareness of Para-Sport. It was such a privilege to be carrying the baton alongside Sir Chris Hoy and Alan Wells, it felt like a dream being there.”
Aamir Mehmood, a student who designed the official tartan for Glasgow 2014 said: “Being one of the first people in Britain to carry the baton is one of the memories I will hold onto forever. You realise what a privilege it is be nominated to carry the baton. And it is great that lots of different people – not just athletes – get to be part of the relay.”
Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay is the ultimate symbol of the Commonwealth Games and its arrival in Scotland gives an important signal to both the athletes and the public that the Games are just around the corner.
“As the host Commonwealth Games Association we are asking the public to nominate worthy Batonbearers who make a significant contribution to their local community.
“The baton’s journey through the country is the ideal opportunity to celebrate community sport and recognise those local athletes selected for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2014. Get behind the Team and be part of the Games!”
Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, David Grevemberg, said: “The Queen’s Baton Relay is the world’s most engaging relay, a unique tradition that unites two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace, and rallies the public and athletes from all nations territories of the Commonwealth as we prepare for the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Up to 4,000 people will be carrying the baton through the length and breadth of Scotland, and we are asking everyone to nominate someone who has made a difference to the community.
"It could be a sports coach, a young athlete, a volunteer worker, an inspirational teacher, someone who has achieved remarkable things against the odds. Nominating batonbearers is your way of thanking those inspirational people in your area, so go online and submit your nominations by 22 November.”
The Queen’s Baton relay is on a 190,000km, 248-day international journey through all nations and territories of the Commonwealth before it arrives in Scotland on June 14, 2014. It then travels for 40 days to every local authority area in Scotland.
Nominations can be made via the Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames website www.glasgow2014.com and close on 22 November.
A Judging Panel including representatives from a wide cross section of Scottish community organisations will assist in selecting the successful nominations for each local authority area.