The Gambia National Olympic Committee on Thursday informed the press that the Queen’s Baton relay will arrive in the country on the 19th of October spending three days before proceeding to its next destination.
The last time the queen’s baton relay visited the Gambia was in 2012 and in October of the following year, the previous government pulled The Gambia out of the Commonwealth of nations.
The Baton will travel for 294 days, connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures, sharing stories as it passes through all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories.
This collective journey is expected to ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation, with these stories leaving us all inspired to take on the challenges that matter most to us.
The baton will spend three days in the Gambia before departing for Sierra Leone.
Abdoulie Jallow, Secretary General of the Gambia National Olympic Committee gave us a breakdown of events for the three days the baton will be in Gambia. He added that the Barton after arriving in The Gambia usually spends the night at the head of states residence following a ceremony at the airport.The Barton will then be taken to State House to spend the night and in the morning of 20 October, the Barton Relay will start from the State House with the president participating in the relay, he explained.
Jallow also The baton will visit Banjul, KM and the West Coast region. The secretary general takes us through how athletes and students will have the opportunity to run with the baton.
Muhammed Janneh, executive director of the GNOC talks about the importance of the baton coming to the Gambia. He said that, the international route for the baton spans an impressive 294 days, spending between two and four days in each nation or territory, covering approximately 90,000 miles with over 7,500 Baton bearers trusted with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Baton in their community.
BY: Baboucarr Sey