The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay is heading back to Rhondda Cynon Taf this weekend ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
It was last in our County Borough five years ago and was welcomed into Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd by thousands of well-wishers before it made its way to the Gold Coast in Australia for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games this July, the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay once again travels through Wales and makes a welcome return to Rhondda Cynon Taf on Saturday, July 2.
It will then make its way through England, finally ending up in Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at the Alexander Stadium on Thursday, July 28.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, said: “It will be a huge honour to welcome the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay back to Rhondda Cynon Taf this weekend. Ahead of every Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay undertakes a phenomenal journey, passing through many hands as it connects communities all over the Commonwealth.
“We look ahead to the Commonwealth Games this summer with great excitement and anticipation, and I would like to send my best wishes to all the athletes from Rhondda Cynon Taf competing, as well as those from across Wales.”
The Wales leg of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will begin in Anglesey on Wednesday, June 29, after coming in from Northern Ireland. It will travel through Wales over five days, visiting towns, villages, and key landmarks across North, West and South Wales.
During its time in Rhondda Cynon Taf on Saturday, July 2, the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit the popular Zip World Tower visitor attraction at Hirwaun at approximately 4pm. Home to Phoenix, the world’s fastest seated zip line, and Tower Coaster, the only one of its kind in Europe, Zip World Tower is situated on the site of the former Tower Colliery, nestled in the Rhigos mountain range at Hirwaun.
Zip World Tower
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will then make its way to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s King George V Athletics Track at Clydach Vale, Rhondda, arriving approximately at 5pm. To welcome its arrival to the sports facility, Sport RCT, Welsh Athletics and Rhondda Athletics Club will be at the track delivering fun, junior athletics activities.
In recent years, the King George V athletics track has benefitted from £800,000 #RCTinvest funding, which has delivered a series of upgrades – including a new and improved athletics track surface, enhancements to field event areas, drainage improvements and the introduction of floodlights.
King George V Athletics Track
The individuals selected to carry the baton during its relay around King George V Athletics Track are Brooke Nicholas (Llwynypia Primary); Max Owen (Llwynypia Primary); Harvey Jones (Cwmclydach Primary); Nile Williams (Cwmclydach Primary); Jesse Cope (St Gabriel & St Raphael RC Primary); Finley Griffiths (Trealaw Primary); Levi Blaken (Trealaw Primary); Agatha Bess (Y Pant Comprehensive); Jack Jones (Hawthorn High); Ffion Lightfoot (St John Baptist CIW High) along with four Rhondda Athletics Club volunteers Catherine Alford, Glyn Pugh, Pauline Dobbs and Wayne Hughes and Rhondda Cynon Taf’s very-own para-athlete Rhys Jones.
Rhys, who is a resident of Rhondda Cynon Taf, competes in category T37 sprinting events. He represented Great Britain at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. He has also represented Wales at two Commonwealth Games and was a bronze medallist at the Glasgow 2014 Games.
Rhys started his athletics journey in Clydach Vale with Rhondda Athletics Club and will represent Wales once more at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay was launched last October by The Queen, in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The Baton is visiting all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth for 294 days, covering 140,000 kilometres.
The Queen’s Baton Relay first took place in 1958, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Cardiff.
