King’s Baton Relay stops in SVG Next Week
St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) through the SVG Olympic Committee (SVGOC), will host the final leg of the King’s Baton Relay swing through the Caribbean.
As a precursor to the 2026 Commonwealth Games set for Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, St Vincent and the Grenadines will once again play its part in the 500-day baton tour.
SVG has three events scheduled for June 11-13 to celebrate the baton’s presence in the nation.
A Baton Relay will take place in Mustique on June 11; on June 13, the Baton will be taken on a school tour to the Windward side of the mainland, visiting selected primary and secondary schools; and the activities culminate on June 14, with a river and beach clean up at Bridgetown, Biabou, involving representatives from affiliates of the SVGOC.
The river/beach clean up of plastics will be done in partnership with the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN).
The King’s Baton Relay was previously the Queen’s Baton Relay, but was renamed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022, who was succeeded as Monarch by her son, Charles.
Previously, a single Baton was used throughout the 74 members of the Commonwealth; however, the King’s Baton will see each country having its own Baton.
The change will see each member presented with a Baton, and they will have the privilege of making creative additions to it in keeping with their respective cultures.
The Caribbean is the first region of the Baton tour; and attention will then switch to the continent of Africa before heading to Asia.
Thereafter, it will be the turn of the Oceania group, then the Americas, and finally, Europe.