Monday 21 April 2014

Sheffield Children’s University – supporting the Queen’s Baton Relay!

With just under 100 days to go until the 2014 Commonwealth Games begins in Glasgow, Sheffield City Council today announced the three Batonbearers selected to carry the Queen’s Baton when it arrives in the city. They are Elizabeth Sorsby, aged 17, Tricia Memmott, aged 24, and Joanne Strong, aged 33. The three Batonbearers have been selected in recognition of their contribution to sport and the community.


The Queen’s Baton Relay will tour Sheffield on 1 June, visiting local landmarks and acting as the centrepiece for events happening to celebrate the countdown to Glasgow 2014. The Batonbearers will carry the baton to a variety of events and activities organised by Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Hallam University, South Yorkshire Sport and SIV to introduce the public to new sports.

Sheffield’s leg of the relay will begin at the 10th century St Nicholas Church in High Bradfield. From High Bradfield, the baton will travel to Concord Leisure Centre in Shiregreen which will host an array of sporting activities and participants can catch a glimpse of the baton before it heads to its next stop.

It is at this stage that you can come along and find loads of CU activities happening at Concord Sports Centre! Some of our Learning Destinations will be there, providing an opportunity to try your hand at a few strategy games, dance workshops, science experiments or musical instruments – and to catch a glimpse of the Queen’s Baton on its journey to Glasgow! Don’t forget your Passport to Learning to earn yourselves some CU credits at the same time.

The final part of Sheffield’s baton relay will be held at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) – Sheffield where local clubs, athletes and schools will join forces to celebrate the arrival of the baton.
SIV will also be offering swimming, gym, classes, skating and sports for £1 on 31 May and 1 June to coincide with the relay.

Paul Billington, Director of Culture and Environment at Sheffield City Council, said: “The baton is hugely symbolic throughout the Commonwealth nations and I’m sure it will help inspire people of all ages and abilities to try out a new sport or activity, just as the Olympic and Paralympic flames did when they lit up Sheffield’s streets in 2012.
“This is our opportunity to cheer on Team England and enjoy the excitement and anticipation in the run up to the games.”

Dame Kelly Holmes, President of Commonwealth Games England, said: “Our England Batonbearers are going to play a crucial part when the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in England on May 31st.

“They have all been selected due to their passion for sport and the way in which they share this with their communities and look to get people involved and active.

“I’m encouraging everyone in Sheffield to get involved when the Queen’s Baton Relay comes to your city – find out what event is taking place and if you can be there then please go and cheer on your batonbearers and be part of the Team England send-off to Glasgow!”

The baton will have visited 63 of 70 Commonwealth nations and territories when it arrives in the British Isles on Sunday 10 May. Landing in Jersey, the baton then journeys through Guernsey, Isle of Man, embarks on a four-day tour of Northern Ireland and then spends a week in Wales. It will arrive in England on 31 May to begin the penultimate leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Manchester, visiting 16 different locations en route to its final destination through Scotland and the start of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Queen’s Baton Relay in England is supported with National Lottery funding from Sport England.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games takes place in Glasgow from 23rd July to 3rd August. Commonwealth Games England is sending a 400-strong team to compete across the 17 sports.


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