The Queen’s Baton Relay commenced from Buckingham Palace, London on 11 March 2002. The baton travelled internationally through 23 Commonwealth Nations – more than 100,000 kmin 87 days before travelling for 50 days throughout the UK being carried by 5,000 batonbearers. The relay concluded during the Games Opening Ceremony on 25 July 2002 where the baton was presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the final batonbearers: David Beckham (Footballer) and Kirsty Howard (a seriously ill young girl notable for her charity work). H.M. the Queen took her message from the baton and read it aloud, officially declaring the games open.
The Queen’s Baton
The baton was made of machined aluminium with the handle plated for conductivity. Inside the baton handle, sensors detected and monitored the batonbearer’s pulse rate, conveying it to a series of light emitting diodes (LEDs), via a light behaviour module. The lens then transformed the LEDs into a dramatic blade of pulsating light. The ‘pulse’ responded to the rhythm of the batonbearer’s heartbeat. The rhythm of a human heartbeat was the core of the baton design. The baton expressed both the uniqueness of the individual and the common rhythm of humanity. It evoked the collective consciousness, unity, energy and journey through life.
The Queen’s message was held in an aluminium capsule inserted into the top of the baton. Two sterling silver coins designed by H.M. The Queen’s jeweller, appeared on either side of the baton, celebrating the City of Manchester as host of the games.
The baton was 710 mm high and 42.5 mm to 85 mm in diameter. It weighed 1.69kg.