The baton relay to mark the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games will go through Carlisle next month.
It has been confirmed that the Queen’s Baton Relay in Carlisle will visit the city on Saturday July 16.
Its route through Carlisle will start on English Street at 9am then travel towards the Greenmarket, the Cathedral grounds, Paternoster Row and onto Castle Street into Tullie House gardens where it will be welcomed as part of this year’s Unity Festival, at around 9.30am. It is due to leave Carlisle at 9.45am.
Members of the public are encouraged to get involved with the celebrations and embrace the arrival of the baton, taking the opportunity to experience the buzz of Birmingham 2022 in their community. The Birmingham 2022 website will be updated with detail on the events and where to line the route.
The Carlisle event has been supported by Carlisle City Council.
Councillor Stephen Higgs, portfolio holder for culture, heritage and leisure, said: “We’re delighted that Carlisle has been chosen as one of the venues for The Queen’s Baton Relay.
“This international showcase will give the city a starring role and will promote the region to a global audience. We hope visitors come out in support of the baton bearers.”
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is set to travel the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the opening ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on July 28.
One of the confirmed community baton bearers in Carlisle is Mina Banisaeid.
Mina moved to Cumbria from Iran and has used her time and positive outlook to inspire and educate others. She is the Chair of Carlisle City of Sanctuary supporting refugees and asylum seekers to find sanctuary within our city, actively organising and attending events and translating. She is an activist and articulately voices her opinion around minority groups. She also works as an advocate for LGBTQ+ young people at the charity Pride in North Cumbria.
Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay has been a tradition for the Commonwealth Games.
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on October 7, when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Batonbearers to carry the Baton.
Since then, the Baton has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania.
