Summary

  • Birmingham hosted the final day of the relay after the baton's global journey

  • Opening ceremony 'is my love letter to city', says artistic director

  • LGBT+ rights protest held at final baton stop

  • 'Amazing scenes' in Jewellery Quarter where Games medals and parts of relay baton were made

  • The Queen's Baton has already visited 72 Commonwealth nations and territories

  • It will end its journey at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Games on Thursday evening

  • The opening ceremony takes place at Alexander Stadium on Thursday with coverage on BBC One from 19:00 BST

Live Reporting

Allen Cook

  1. Huge crowd welcomes Sir Lenny as he brings home the baton

    Absolute scenes... Wow. On Wednesday evening it looked like half of Birmingham had rocked up to Victoria Square to welcome the baton home to the city for the Commonwealth Games.

    Entertainer and comedian Sir Lenny Henry, originally from Dudley, was the person chosen to carry it into the square and he said beforehand it was an honour and a "massive thing" to be picked.

    Sir Lenny on the wayGetty Images
    Sir Lenny in the squareGetty Images
    The crowdGetty Images
    Sir Lenny with the batonGetty Images

  2. Welcome to our live Baton Relay coverage

    Allen Cook
    BBC News

    Well here we are. After nearly 300 days on a global journey, the Queen's Baton Relay ends today in Birmingham ahead of this evening's Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

    Sir Lenny Henry with the batonBirmingham 2022

    The atmosphere through the West Midlands on the relay has been incredible and there were some special scenes yesterday in Victoria Square, Birmingham, when Sir Lenny Henry carried the baton through cheering crowds.

    We'll bring you coverage through today as the baton heads towards its final stop as Aston Hall.

    If you're out watching the relay, you can share your photos of the day on WhatsApp using this link:https://bit.ly/3OSVIrw