Commonwealth Games 2022: Queen’s Baton received amidst praise for athletes from PM

…Guyana leg of relay underway

By Jemima Holmes

In anticipation of the staging of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton will be carried by athletes to Linden, Iwokrama, Riverview and Annai as the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) opts for a more scenic marathon this year.

This and more were revealed on Friday evening when Guyana officially received the Queen’s Baton for commencement of the Guyana leg of the relay.
The Queen’s Baton was first handed over to Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, who is performing the duties of President, and the Prime Minister used the opportunity to speak highly of Guyana’s athletes and the continued efforts to raise the bar of sport locally.

Guyana is number 46 of the 72 countries and territories to which the Queen’s Baton would travel before arriving in Birmingham, United Kingdom, for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Bearing a secret message that would be opened and read by the Queen at the July 28th beginning of the Games, the Baton was previously in Belize, and will travel to Grenada after Guyana’s relay.

President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K.A Juman-Yassin, has disclosed the route for this year’s relay, and the reason why such a route was decided upon.

“The route in Guyana, normally, we have the first day in Georgetown, but because of the COVID pandemic, we decided not to do it in Georgetown. In Georgetown, most of you have seen it before, there’s a lot of crowds,” Yassin revealed.
He added, “So, because of the COVID, we decided we would start it at Linden, and from Linden we would go to Iwokrama, then to Fairview, the Canopy Walkway, then to Annai and back.”
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller, at whose residence the reception was hosted, supported the GOA’s decision, especially in the interest of climate change.
Miller related, “I’m delighted that we’re going to be going to Linden, and in particular into the rainforest. Many of you will know that we had the big Climate Conference in the UK at the end of last year, COP- 26, and the UK is now President of COP-26; so, climate change and climate issues are very important to us.
“And Guyana, with its incredibly beautiful and very important rainforest, seems a more appropriate place to be taking the baton,” she said.
Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips has applauded Guyanese athletes as he expressed his Government’s commitment to the development of sport.
“As we consider the symbolism of this occasion, we must also acknowledge the hard work and training that has been invested by our athletes who will be competing in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Guyana has proudly participated in these games for 19 years. We’re honoured to have been represented by scores of athletes, who have made us proud with their performances,” Phillips shared. “Our Government believes in the importance of sports to the all-round development of our people. We understand that, in addition to having a growing economy, there must be robust support in the development of sports.
“Founded on this belief, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport now has its largest budget in our country’s history.”
The Guyanese Prime Minister, performing duties of the President, further stated, “As the baton makes its rounds through our country, touching the mining town of Linden and landmark locations such as Iwokrama, Fairview and Annai, this will be an opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements of our people in sport.”
The Queen’s Baton Relay commenced on Saturday morning in Linden, where athletes took turns in carrying the baton by walking, running and riding. The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held from July 28th to August 8th, 2022.