The Queen 's baton lit up some local and deserving faces on Tuesday as its around the world tour begins to wind down. Ivan Cohen and Peter McMahon are two local campaigners, volunteers and champions for other people like them with learning disabilities.
Both men were nominated to carry the baton ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and Gary Airnes, Enable Scotland’s branch and membership coordinator, said Cohen and McMahon’s dedication to the community earned them the opportunity. Both men were beaming with pride to be a part of the procession on Tuesday.
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“It was brilliant, and I really liked it,” Cohen said through smiles. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. We’re really proud of Team Scotland." McMahon said carrying the baton was an emotional experience for him, and he loved seeing people gathered around to watch the procession.
“They were nominated for this honour because of their fantastic campaign work, and we couldn’t be prouder of them,” said Airnes. Minister for public health and sport, Maree Todd MSP, was also part of the procession, and she received the baton from McMahon on the last leg of its journey around Calton Hill.
“I’m really excited to be here. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,” she said. Todd explained that seeing the team from Enable Scotland at the procession was a lovely part of the baton’s journey.
She said Scotland was one of the first places where para-sports and regular sports happened at the same time, and she welcomed the inclusion and increasing diversity. “It’s a point of pride for me and for Scotland,” she said.
“I’m passionate about sport, and I’m passionate about sport being for everyone. Sport is for women, people who are deprived, people of all abilities and ages.”
Colin Millar, head of marketing and communication for Team Scotland, explained that the Queen’s baton is a symbolic part of the Commonwealth Games. In October, the Queen placed a message inside the baton, and it began its ambitious journey to visit each of the 72 Commonwealth Nations ahead of the 2022 games in Birmingham this summer.
On Saturday, the baton began its five-day journey through Scotland, passing through Inverness, Arran, Cumnock, Glasgow, Bo’ness, and the Borders and Dumfries in addition to Edinburgh. “It is fantastic to have the Baton arrive in Scotland. Its arrival signifies an exciting moment in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham,” said Paul Bush OBE, Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland.
This world-wide procession is the 16 th official Queen’s Baton Relay. By the end of the journey, the baton will have traveled 140,000 kilometres in 269 days across 72 nations around the world.
The Queen’s Baton Relay will complete its journey at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July. According to a press release from Team Scotland, it is a traditional and fundamental part of the Games and the Opening Ceremony. The final Baton-bearer will pass the Baton back to The Queen.
The Queen’s message to the Commonwealth will then be removed from the Baton and read aloud, marking the official start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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