Osinbajo receives 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday received the 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja. A Baton carrying Her Majesty’s message of goodwill to the Commonwealth had gone on a 90000-mile, 72 country journey to end at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Osinbajo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, while speaking, said: “Before […]
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catariona Liang discussing with the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and sports minister, Sunday Dare at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday received the 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
A Baton carrying Her Majesty’s message of goodwill to the Commonwealth had gone on a 90000-mile, 72 country journey to end at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Osinbajo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, while speaking, said: “Before proceeding to tour 15 other countries in Africa, I had the honour, while representing President Muhammadu Buhari, to receive the Queen’s Baton today.
“In preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Queen’s Baton Relay had arrived Nigeria first, as part of its tour of Africa.”
The vice president, who said the ceremony precedes every Commonwealth Games, added that “it’s a very special pleasure to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to Nigeria today. This is a much-loved tradition that precedes every Commonwealth Games.
“As the relay goes from one Commonwealth member country to another in its country journey across several continents, the two billion-strong population of the commonwealth are reminded of the strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship that bind us across these continents, nations, races, tongues and faiths. This joyful event will end at this time in Birmingham, the city which will host the games in 2022.
“Since then, our athletes have won no less than 236 medals at the games! We are set to do much better in Birmingham.”
The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, who said Nigeria was the first African country to host the Queen’s Baton Relay, added that the event signified unity, peace and love among the member nations.
“The giant stride by both the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Birmingham 2022 Organiser in ensuring that the Queen’s Baton visits the 72 Commonwealth nations and territories to spread the goodwill message of the games to the sporting world community is highly commendable.
“The Commonwealth Games itself has come of age and the Queen’s Baton is traversing the globe with an open invitation to elite athletes to converge in celebration of sports excellence in an environment of peace and friendship in Birmingham, United Kingdom.”