Free Birmingham 2022 event planned to welcome Queen’s Baton Relay in Small Heath Park

A free public event has been organised as the Queen’s Baton Relay tour comes to Birmingham’s Small Heath Park on Wednesday.

The iconic baton, which has toured through 72 countries, is now almost within sight of the opening ceremony which will take place on Thursday as the much-anticipated Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 finally get underway.

Small Heath Park will host an afternoon of free public events to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay as it comes from Kingscliff Road to Bordesley Green (2.47pm to 3.08pm), and then at Small Heath Park to Waverley Road (from 4.28pm t0 4.44pm) before heading off to the city centre.

The free public event in Small Heath Park – which has entrances in Coventry Road, Tennyson Road and Waverley Road – will commence at 12pm on Wednesday (27 July) and will offer visitors a range of activities, including music and chat with Nikki Tapper who will also introduce guests.

People can look forward to sporting sessions such as football and tennis, including garden games, and there will be photo opportunities on the podium.

A gazebo will be erected in the park which will giveaway free Queen’s Baton Relay goodies for children and parents.

The iconic Queen’s Baton, which was produced by West Midlands designers, is inspired by “the strength and fortitude of women across the Commonwealth” which reflects the fact that female athletes will receive more medals than men at this year’s Games.

The Queen’s Baton Relay, which is finally coming to the end of its 294-day tour around 72 countries, began its English leg of the journey on 4 July and gave 180 communities in England the chance to be a part of the journey across its 2,500-mile route.

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 is expected to host 5,000 athletes who will compete in 19 exciting sports which will take place over the duration of 11 days.

This will be the third time in the history of the Commonwealth Games that England has hosted the sporting event.