Anticipation is building ahead of the Queen’s Baton Relay coming to Knowsley this weekend.
On Sunday at 5pm, the ceremony preceding the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham later this year will begin its journey through the Liverpool City Region following a tour of the 68 countries of the commonwealth. The visit to Knowsley on Sunday, then Liverpool on Monday is part of the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay which began on June 2.
The Baton will be met at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park where the Batonbearers will be welcomed by a troupe of more than 100 Girl Guides from across Merseyside, forming a guard of honour as they make their way into the park. Huyton running group, Running Bugs will guide the Baton and Batonbearer to the Velodrome via a live bootcamp training session.
READ MORE: £3m market debt to be written off as Liverpool Council looks to revamp
At the Velodrome the Baton will be passed to cyclists from Runcorn Cycling Club and Liverpool Century Cycling Club who will take the Baton on a lap before the Knowsley BMX Club perform a skills demonstration.
The Baton will travel on to Knowsley Safari Park in convoy where the relay will travel around the Foot Safari, with the runners passing by the giraffes and through the Tiger Trail. From there, the Batonbearers will travel into Prescot, via Warrington Road and will travel down Eccleston Street to the newly opened Shakespeare North Playhouse.
From around 6.15pm, before the Baton’s arrival in the town centre, crowds will be able to enjoy the start of the Baton Relay’s ‘End of Day’ celebration. When the Baton arrives at the new theatre, which opens tonight, it will take a trip inside the brand-new space and visit The Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden where the Batonbearer will be greeted by a singing choir.
The convoy will then travel out to Prospero Place and the day will conclude with a world-first performance of ‘A Song for Prescot’ by pupils from Evelyn Community Primary School. The bells of Prescot Parish Church will be rung to signify the end of the relay as the Batonbearers depart.
Cllr Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council said: “This is a momentous occasion for Knowsley and one we should all feel very proud to be part of. I hope to see our communities take the opportunity to see the baton on its tour and enjoy the fantastic evening of events and entertainment we have planned to welcome The Queen’s Baton into our borough.”
The 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham begins later this month and will continue into August.
READ NEXT
Stark reality of Knowsley's health inequalities revealed
Social housing changes 'won't reduce waiting lists'
Woods could be converted into burial plots under £2.6m plans
Troubled children's home to reopen after closing for 'four weeks' 10 months ago
Council sends urgent update to homes waiting on £150 payment
