All the best bits from the Commonwealth Games baton relay
We've been out and about capturing every moment!
Last updated 27th Jul 2022
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are almost upon us, and we've been heading out across the country catching the baton relay, before it completes its journey at the Games' Opening Ceremony on Thursday 28th July.
The baton relay is taking a route travelling the whole of England, beginning in Cornwall, and finishing at the Alexander Stadium on Thursday evening. The baton is travelling via air, land and sea, visiting more than 180 communities across England.
Check out the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay route:
Check out where the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay has been:
We've followed the relay around the whole of the country, with our colleagues across the UK reporting on its journey.
The Queen's Baton relay started in Cornwall where it arrived via zip wire at the Eden Project!
Our colleagues from sister station Pirate FM were there to see it:
It then travelled to Plymouth where it arrived via an electric boat and then travelled on to Exeter by paddleboard:
Later on the first day the baton went to Portland in Dorset where it was carried by Olympic sailor and two-time world champion Hannah Mills and then onto Devizes and Stonehenge.
On Tuesday 5th July, the baton made its way to the ancient city of Bath.
Before making it's way to Bristol
Following on from Bath, the baton travelled to Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury.
Then it cruised through the Thames at Maidenhead on Wednesday 6th July.
Our Surrey reporter Ellie Cloute interviewed previous Commonwealth Games athlete Sarah Evans when the baton arrived at Guildford on Thursday 7th July.
On Friday 8th July the baton made its way to Kings Lynn in Norfolk, where one of the baton-bearers was 80-year-old Mick Ennis.
The baton made its way to the East Midlands visiting Derbyshire on Monday 11th July and was covered by our reporter Maisie Marston.
Yorkshire and the Humber hosted the Queen’s baton visiting the historic town of York on Wednesday 13th July.
The baton then spent time in the North East, travelling through South Shields, Alnwick, Whitley Bay, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Queen’s baton received a warm welcome in sunny Blackpool on Saturday 16th July.
The Commonwealth Baton arrives in the Midlands
The Baton Relay arrived in the Midlands on Monday 18th July; visiting Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Shrewsbury. A celebration event was held at the Quarry to mark the occasion.
On Tuesday 19th July, when temperatures hit record highs, the Baton Relay started it's journey at the top of the Wrekin at dawn, followed by a trip down the River Severn in Ironbridge. It was then carried over bridge by a baton bearer riding Telford's enormous mechanical elephant.
From Shropshire, the baton headed through Stafford and Stone, and ended up at Alton Towers theme park where two bearers rode Oblivion carrying the baton!
Wednesday 20th July saw the Baton Relay start in Uttoxeter, stop off at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton, before moving on to Tamworth and Lichfield.
Across into Warwickshire on Thursday 21st July, passing through Atherstone, Nuneaton and Bedworth and ending in Coventry. A celebration event was held at the Assembly Festival Gardens, before the baton was carried to Coventry Cathedral for a laser light spectacle.
Starting off in Kenilworth on Friday 22nd July, the Baton Relay headed to Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon and then into Worcestershire. The baton was carried past the Guildhall and into Worcester Cathedral.
From there, it boarded a dragon boat and sailed down the River Severn to Worcester Racecourse, where it was met by former Grand National winner Pineau de Re!
Another mode of transport on Saturday 23rd July, the baton arrived at Kidderminster station to board a steam train! The purple Elizabeth the Second locomotive carried the baton along the Severn Valley Railway to Bridgnorth.
The next day, the baton was parachuted in to East Park in Wolverhampton from over 2,000 feet in the air.
On Wednesday 27th July the Baton continued its tour of the West Midlands, visiting The Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Now take a look at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Venues:
1) Alexander Stadium in Walsall Road, Perry Barr
The stadium had gone through major renovations ahead of the Games. The Alexander Stadium will stage the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and athletes will compete there in track and field events from 2nd August to 7th August.
2) Arena Birmingham in King Edwards Road, Birmingham
Arena Birmingham is one of the busiest, large-scale indoor sporting and entertainment venues in the world. The versatile venue has hosted 30 different sports in its history and will certainly be well used during the Commonwealth Games.
3) Cannock Chase Forest in Birches Valley, Rugeley
Cannock Chase Forest will host the mountain bike competition on Wednesday 3 August.
4) Coventry Stadium and Arena in Judds Lane, Coventry
Opened in 2005, Coventry Stadium can accommodate more than 32, 500 spectators. The stadium is home to Premiership Rugby Team Wasps and Coventry City FC. The stadium will host the Rugby Sevens, Judo and wrestling events.
5) Edgbaston Stadium in Edgbaston Road, Birmingham
The world-famous cricket stadium will host the debut of Women's cricket T20. The stadium has a capacity of nearly 25,000.
6) Lee Valley Velopark in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Abercrombie Road, London
This is the only venue outside the West Midlands. The velodrome staged the London 2012 track cycling competition providing some of the Games' most exciting moments.
7) The NEC in North Avenue in Marston Green, Birmingham
The National Exhibition Centre is the UK's largest exhibition venue and one of Europe's leading event destinations. The NEC will host the Netball event.
8) Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick
Unsurprisingly, the Aquatic centre will host swimming and diving events.
9) Smithfield in Southside, Birmingham
Formerly the site of Birmingham's Wholesale Markets, Smithfield will be the home of the beach volleyball and basketball 3x3 competitions during the Commonwealth Games.
10) Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Park will host the Triathlon event on Friday 29 July and Sunday 31 July.
11) University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre in Edgbaston
The venue will host the venue for the squash and hockey events during Games, as well as housing the principal Athletes' Village.
12) Victoria Park, Archery Road, Royal Leamington Spa
Victoria Park will play host to the Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls events during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
13) Victoria Square, Birmingham
Located at the heart of the city, Victoria Square will be the finishing line for the Marathon on Saturday 30 July.
14) Warwick Road Race in Myton Fields, Warwickshire
160 of the world's best cyclists are set to gather at Myton Fields for the road races, scheduled to be held on the penultimate day of the Commonwealth Games on Sunday 7th August.
15) West Park in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton's historic West Park will provide a spectacular backdrop to the start and finish of the Cycling Time Trial on Thursday 4th August.
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