The Queen’s Baton Relay to celebrate the XX Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 will visit the Cayman Islands from April 11th- 15th 2014.

The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee (CIOC) is excited to celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay, the traditional curtain-raiser to the Commonwealth Games, here in the Cayman Islands this week. The XX Commonwealth Games will open in Glasgow, Scotland on July 23rd 2014 where Cayman looks to send its largest team to date with athletes represented across 7 sports; Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Shooting, Squash and Swimming.

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving 71 teams of athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years. Glasgow 2014 will be the 20th Commonwealth Games and will be held from July 23rd to August 3rd.  It will feature 17 sports in 11 days of competition with 261 medal events on show.  The first Queen’s Baton Relay was staged for the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and has been made a tradition ever since.  For the first time in history, the relay will be covered by the BBC across its entire journey.

The baton, which contains Her Majesty’s message to the athletes, will arrive from Kingston, Jamaica and will be met by Secretary General of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee (CIOC) Carson Ebanks MBE, JP, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Cydonie Mothersill, and Glasgow 2014 Chef de Mission for the Cayman Islands Team Jennifer Powell on the morning of Friday, April the 11th.  The team will arrive to a Guard of Honour and the Water Salute which has been graciously organised by Cayman Airways Ltd.

On Saturday, April the 12th, the baton will make its way to each district in Grand Cayman, with the first leg of the relay beginning with Her Excellency the Governor at her residence.  She will pass the Baton on Seven Mile Beach to CIOC President Donald McLean to begin the relay through the district of West Bay.  It will make its way across the North Sound, with a short stop at Stingray City before traveling through North Side, followed by East End and Bodden Town and finally making its way into the capital of George Town.

Throughout its journey the baton will travel by Jet Ski, foot, cycle, sail boat, and horse, just to name a few.  It will stop at numerous historical locations such as the Turtle Farm, the Wreck of the Ten Sails and the National Museum and be carried by an impressive list of prominent Caymanians, young and old.

The CIOC is extremely pleased to announce that elite athletes Cydonie Mothersill, Ronald Forbes and Brett Fraser will all be on island to participate in the relay among numerous Caymanian athletes of all abilities.  As the first Gold Medalist for the Cayman Islands, competing in the 200m at the last edition of the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi 2010, Mothersill will carry the Baton for the final leg of the relay, arriving at Heroes Square for a short cultural reception open to the public.  We encourage you to come and celebrate the baton between 4:00pm and 6:00pm at Celebration Park located next to the Court House where everyone has the opportunity to see the baton and meet Caymans top athletes.  There will be live music provided by Swanky Kitchen Band and a short quadrille performance by George Town Primary.

On Monday, April 14th, the baton will make its way to the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman before it a final farewell reception to be held at the Governor’s Residence before its departure the follow morning.

For more information on the Queen’s Baton Relay and how you can be a part of it, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games or the Cayman Islands National Team, please contact the CIOC at: Email:[email protected]

Tel: 345 946 6984