Upon arriving to the Caribbean island of Barbados, the Queen’s Baton Relay was greeted by Commonwealth Games Barbados, including President Sandra Osborne, Vice President and Chef de Mission for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cameron Burke, Secretary General Erskine Simmons and Assistant Secretary General Shelley-Ann Griffith.
The Queen’s Baton was escorted to State House where it was presented to Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados.
In an effort to cover the length and breadth of the island, the Baton visited a place of interest in each of the 11 parishes. Highlights included visiting the Bulkeley Sugar Factory in St George, running to the South Point Lighthouse – the oldest in Barbados, doing a lap of the Bushy Park race track and visiting PEG Farm – a biodynamic Farm and Nature reserve.
Young Barbadian athletes took pride in being involved in the Relay, representing sports that will be competed at Birmingham 2022, including swimming, athletics, badminton, gymnastics, cricket, boxing, cycling, netball and triathlon.
The second day of activity began with a trip down memory lane, with a special moment for Batonbearer Ryan Archer. Not only did Ryan carry the Baton for the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay, but he also played the same role back in 2006, photographed with the Baton for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, when he was just two years old.
The Deputy British High Commissioner later hosted a reception on the grounds of the residence, where former and current Commonwealth Games athletes were invited, including Erin Pinder who will be the first gymnast from Barbados to compete in a Commonwealth Games since 2002.
