Nigerian games greats gather in Lagos for Queen’s Baton

Former Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes and major stakeholders in Nigerian sport will gather in Lagos to receive the Queen’s Baton, which is expected to arrive in the country on April 1. To ensure a befitting reception for the Baton, which arrival will kick start activities leading to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Ministry of Sports have lined up a series of activities to celebrate the event.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday, Chairperson of the Queen’s Baton Committee, Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi said the Baton, which was officially launched by British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth 11 at the Buckingham Place on March 13, has been on a 388-day journey covering all the 70 Commonwealth countries.

According top Kulu-Akinyemi, “The Baton, accompanied by a five-man international team will arrive in Nigeria on April 1 and depart on April 5, 2017. In tradition with the Queen’s Baton protocol, it has always been presented to the nation’s highest authority hence on its previous visits to Nigeria, the Queen’s Baton had always been received by Mr. President.

“However, due to logistics, this time around, the Queen’s Baton will be celebrated in the city of Lagos alone. The city of Lagos hosted the 2002 and 2014 editions of the event.”

She said the activities lined up to celebrate the Queen’s Baton arrival in Nigeria include a reception on April 1, adding, “April 2 being a Sunday will be a rest day for the visiting team, while on April 3, the Baton will be presented to Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

“Thereafter, the Baton Relay train will proceed to the National Stadium where series of activities have been lined up. These include a city float, leading to a relay pack of past Commonwealth athletes, Olympians and Paralympians, from National Stadium through Western Avenue to Ojuelegba and back to the stadium.”

She added that the Baton will on April 4 visit NOC’s partner school, Greensprings Schools at Lekki, stop over at Oba S.A Elegushi’s Palace, visit the British Council before leaving for Kenya on April 5 in continuation of the global tour.