Queen’s Baton Relay 2022: when will Commonwealth Games race pass Newcastle, full UK route, what is it for?

The Queen’s Baton Relay is set to commence in the coming weeks.

The relay will take place across the whole of the UK, as well as some international destinations, for a total of 29 days.

The relay race will culminate at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth games which will be held in Birmingham.

So, when will the Baton Relay come through Newcastle this year?

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming events across the country.

When does the relay start?

The relay race is set to kick off in London on 2 June coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Baton will spend five days in London to commemorate The Queen’s 70th year as Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth.

What is the Queen’s Baton Relay?

The Queen’s Baton Relay is a relay around the world held before the beginning of the Commonwealth Games.

The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London.

Ian Reid, Chief Executive of Birmingham 2022, spoke on the relay race: “whilst the Baton has been travelling across the Commonwealth, we have worked closely with Local Authorities in England to devise a route that engages with hundreds of communities, passing sport venues, historic sites, local schools and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“Yet the Queen’s Baton Relay is far more than just a journey. It symbolises connecting people from every corner of the Commonwealth, celebrates Baton bearers who take on challenges, and marks the countdown to the biggest sporting event in West Midlands history.

“And by the time the Baton returns to England for the final leg, 71 nations and territories will have already experienced the magic that comes with it.”

When will the Queen’s Baton be in Newcastle?

Fans across the region will be glad to know that the baton will reach Newcastle on Friday 15 July.

The race will pass through South Shields, Whitley Bay, Blyth, Alnwick, Gateshead, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne throughout the day.

When are the Commonwealth Games?

The Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony will take place in Birmingham on Thursday 28 July 2022.

The games will run until the Closing Ceremony which is scheduled for 8 August 2022, in which all 72 participating countries will return to the Alexander Stadium.

The Commonwealth Games Federation flag will be handed over to representatives of Victoria, the hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

What is the full UK route of the baton?

After spending five days in London from Thursday 2 June, the Baton will then resume the international journey where it will visit Falkland Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man, before touring home nations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The Baton returns to England on Monday 5 July to commence a 25-day tour of the regions with activities throughout.

For example there will be a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall on the 4 July, to Nottingham Castle caves on 10 July, will the Baton speed down a zip wire in the Lake District on 16 July, and will finish with a visit to Aston Hall on 28 July, the day of the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022.

The following is a list of the locations the Baton will be visiting, as well as the dates it will be there:

The final countdown to the Opening Ceremony will see the Baton spend 11 days travelling through the host region of the West Midlands, visiting: