The Queen’s Baton Relay will commence in Lagos from April 1-5, 2017.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports formally commenced an awareness programme to herald the arrival of the the Queen’s Baton Relay team in Nigeria at a media briefing in Abuja.
The event which is the traditional curtain raiser to the Commonwealth Games is expected to be received in Lagos by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the media centre of the Abuja National Stadium, the NOC President, Habu Gumel, described the pre-event media chat as an important day in the history of the event preceding the Commonwealth games.
“The Queen’s Baton relay is coming from Buckingham Palace, London and will tour over 70 Commonwealth countries in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Australia.”
Gumel said that the Queen’s Baton relay which Nigeria hosted alongside other Commonwealth nations in 2005, 2009 and 2014 ahead of the Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 games, left London on Monday, March 13, 2017 enroute other Commonwealth countries.
“It is a very important event to us. We have hosted it on many occasions, received by the president of Nigeria. This time around, we are planning to do more in commemoration of this great and iconic event.”
In his remark, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, described the Queen’s Baton Relay as a media event with the overall objective of creating the needed public awareness for the Commonwealth Games.
According to Dalung, the 388 days journey covering over 70 Commonwealth nations will be accompanied by a five man international team expected to berth in Nigeria in line with the tradition of the commemorative event.
“I wish to invite all our media friends to join us as we celebrate the Queen’s Baton relay in Nigeria, using it as the platform for awareness and generating corporate and public support for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.”
“Permit me to use this medium to inform all concerned, that the countdown to the 2018 Commonwealth Games has begun. We must therefore, put our acts together to ensure a robust preparation and successful outing for Team Nigeria at the Games,” Dalun said.