The Queen’s Baton has visited the first country in the Americas, spending two days in Belize from 23 to 24 March, where over 150 Batonbearers took part.
The activities started in Belize City with local cyclists carrying the Baton. They crossed the Swing Bridge, the oldest of its kind in Central America, before arriving at the Government House and handing over the Baton to a fleet of runners. The band of Batonbearers ran with the Baton and passed it on to children supported by The Inspiration Centre, an organisation which provides medical services and therapy to children with disabilities and their families. They carried the Baton to Battlefield Park, where Deputy Mayor Allan Pollard held a welcome ceremony.
That afternoon, sailing and canoe athletes set sail from Belize City and cruised with the Baton to the Half Moon Caye, where brave Batonbearers swam with sharks!
The Queen’s Baton Relay also visited the first marine reserve in Belize, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which was established in 1987. It comprises of 164 square miles of coral reef, seagrass beds, mangrove wetlands, and fishing flats.
After visiting the reserve, the Baton was taken to Caye Caulker, a small island which was split in half by Hurricane Hattie in 1961.
On the second day, the Baton was taken to visit the Belize National Football Team, the Jaguars, and to witness one of their games.
Batonbearers cruised down the Macal River to the Low Level Wooden Bridge from Hawkesworth Bridge, which marks the starting point of La Ruta Maya, the 180 mile, 4-day long canoe marathon that finishes in Belize City. Several athletes who took part in the most recent race, took on the Queen’s Baton Relay as Batonbearers.
One of the Batonbearers, Chris Guydis, handmade all of the canoes that were used in the Relay.
Local school children were eagerly watching from the riverbank as the athletes arrived with the Baton; both groups of people took part in a riverbank clean up.
The Xunantunich Maya Temple was next on the jam-packed itinerary. Students from local schools were proud to carry the Baton around the site, of which its name ‘Xunantunich’ derives from the Yucatec Maya language and means “Stone Woman.”
On the grounds, local team Ek’ Balam showcased their skills in Pok-Ta-Pok, a game in which they are world champions. Originating in Mesoamerica, the game involves two teams passing a rubber ball back and forth over a line, but the ball can only touch their hips and no other part of their body, or it is a foul.
Finally, the Baton was taken to Belmopan, the capital city of Belize, where it was welcomed by the Senior National Football team.
