The 16th official Queen's Baton Relay arrived in Karachi on Monday as it continues its global journey around the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories before concluding at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022.
A welcome ceremony was hosted by the Deputy British High Commission, Karachi to officially hand over the Queen's Baton to the President of the Commonwealth Games Association.
The Baton will be carried by Pakistani squash legend Jahangir Khan, and Muhammad Inam, World Beach Wrestling Champion and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist. During its time in Pakistan, the Baton will also visit the Madressatul Islam University, Mazaar-e-Quaid, Karachi Grammar School and Moulana Muhammad Ali Johar Park (Kakri Ground) as Batonbearers, athletes, and others share untold stories of striving for change in their communities.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner, said:
Birmingham, the baton's final destination, has one of the largest Pakistani diaspora in the UK. With the 75th anniversary of our relations and the Commonwealth, this is another important milestone in UK-Pakistan relations.
The Baton Relay has been an essential part of the Commonwealth Games for over 60 years and celebrates communities from across the Commonwealth during the run up to the Games. It ignites hope, solidarity, and collaboration as it connects communities embracing unique cultures and inspires the next generation of sporting heroes.
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The 16th official Queen's Baton Relay is an epic journey covering the entirety of the Commonwealth as it will travel to all 72 nations and territories, covering a distance of 140,000 kilometres. For 269 days, the Baton will travel to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas, before it embarks on the final stretch of its journey across England for 25 days.
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The Commonwealth Games bring nations together in a colourful celebration of sport and human performance. But the Games have evolved dramatically since its beginnings in 1930. Held every four years, with a hiatus during World War II, the Games have grown from featuring 11 countries and 400 athletes, to a global spectacle of 6,600 sports men and women from across 72 nations and territories.
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Underpinned by the core values of humanity, equality and destiny, the Games aim to unite the Commonwealth family through a glorious festival of sport. Often referred to as the 'Friendly Games', the event is renowned for inspiring athletes to compete in the spirit of friendship and fair play.
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Pakistan has competed in 13 of the 21 previous Commonwealth Games, from 1954. Its most successful games have been the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, where it was 4th in the overall rankings and won 8 Gold Medals. Its most successful event has been wrestling, where it has won 42 medals, 21 of which have been Gold. It ranks 3rd overall in Wrestling at the Commonwealth Games.
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After Pakistan, the Baton relay will travel to the Maldives.
