The full route of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay has been revealed. It will visit Sandwell on Monday 25 July during its final journey through England this summer.

Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games. 

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay is currently travelling for a total of 294 days across the Commonwealth, in an epic journey that sees it visit all 72 nations and territories.

The aim of the journey is to embrace culture, ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration, and share stories that inspire others to take on challenges.

This summer, the baton will return to the host nation for a tour of each region of England, travelling the length and breadth of the country for a total of 29 days. It will culminate in the city of Birmingham, where it will take a central role in the opening ceremony on Thursday 28 July.

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 7 October 2021, when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of baton bearers.

Since then it has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania. It still has further destinations in the Caribbean, the Americas, and more countries in Europe, including the Home Nations consisting of five days in Scotland, four in Northern Ireland and five in Wales, where it will finish on Sunday 3 July, before returning to England in summer for the final countdown to the Games.

Starting on Thursday 2 June, the baton will spend four days in London, coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend. It will then resume its international journey and before returning to England again on Monday 4 July to commence a 25-day tour of the regions.

Travelling via land, air and sea, more than 180 communities in England will experience the Queen’s Baton on a route spanning 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres). From large cities and historic market towns, to rolling countryside and rugged coastline, the baton will head as far south as Cornwall and as far north as Northumberland.

On Monday 25 July Sandwell will officially welcome the baton.

 A busy schedule of activities and events are planned, with opportunities to highlight untold stories from baton bearers who are striving for change in their community.

Sandwell is one of only two authorities in the region to have the baton for a full day and there will be 100 baton bearers running through the streets and parks of Sandwell, including some who will take on the mammoth uphill leg up Waterfall Lane.

Thousands of baton bearers, each with inspiring backgrounds and stories, will have the honour of carrying the baton during the journey through England, including those nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community, whether that be in sport, education, the arts, culture or charity. 

The Queen’s Baton Relay starts from Sandwell Council House, Oldbury, just after 8am, then visits:

• Brunswick Park, Wednesbury
• Victoria Park, Tipton
• Haden Hill House and Park, Rowley Regis
• Sandwell Aquatics Centre, Smethwick
• Lightwoods Park, Smethwick
• Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich at approximately 6:30pm.

Residents of Sandwell are encouraged to get involved with the celebrations and embrace the arrival of the baton, taking the opportunity to experience the excitement of Birmingham 2022 in their community.

A range of activities will be held around each part of the relay across the borough. Further details of these activities and timings will be made available soon.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael, Leader of Sandwell Council, said: “The people of Sandwell are excited and honoured that our borough is hosting the swimming and diving events at the new Sandwell Aquatics Centre as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and we look forward to the Queen’s Baton Relay taking place in the six towns. It will bring the buzz of the Games to Sandwell and link us to communities across the Commonwealth.

“The relay is a Games’ tradition that recognises, connects and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth and it is appropriate that one of the venues the baton will visit is Brunswick Park, which opened in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

“I would encourage the people of Sandwell to welcome and support the arrival of the baton and to be inspired by the backgrounds and stories of the baton bearers from across the Commonwealth and here in Sandwell.”

Find out more about the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games