Commonwealth Games 2022: Queen's Baton Relay in Wales

The Queen's Baton Relay has arrived in Wales to tour the nation before the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The baton will spend five days in Wales, celebrating community heroes.

Almost 400 baton carriers will take it from Anglesey on Wednesday through to Swansea on Sunday, stopping at 22 locations on the way.

The baton will then tour England before arriving for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on 28 July.

• Nurse to carry baton for dad who died with Covid

• Team Wales: Its athletes at Birmingham 2022

• Commonwealth Games 2022 on the BBC

"Having the opportunity for us to travel across Wales, engage with people in communities, and be part of so many different events - it really does bring us together as a country," said Chris Jenkins, head of Commonwealth Games Wales.

"This certainly accentuates the build-up for Team Wales in Birmingham this summer."

'I'll remember this as long as I live'

The first to bring the baton to Wales were the RNLI crews of the Holyhead lifeboats.

Station volunteer helm Marc Falloon said it was a "great honour" to bring the baton ashore

Station volunteer helm Marc Falloon brought the baton ashore on an inshore D-class boat flanked by the lifeboat from neighbouring Trearddur Bay - all under the eyes of an RAF flypast.

"It means a lot for people to be part of the Commonwealth. We wish the baton all the best on it's journey to south Wales. I'll remember this as long as I live," said Mr Falloon.

Over the five days in Wales, the baton will travel by boat, steam train, plane and even on a giant zipwire.

The Queen's Baton Relay route around Wales

Beca, from Llanerchymedd, Anglesey, a 1500m runner, was one of those nominated to carry the baton.

She said: "I've been nominated by my school as I do a lot of running. I've been lucky enough to represent Wales on some occasions.

"It just means a lot to me. It shows that all the hard work has paid off and it's just an amazing experience."

Beca's grandmother, who watched her carry the baton, said it was an "exceptionally big" day for the family and they were "truly proud" of her.

Beca was nominated to carry the baton by her school due to her success running for Wales

Llinos, with her children Celt and Seren, also lined the streets to watch her son Jac, who was baton bearer 12.

Jac has been praised for his work raising money for cystic fibrosis charities, a condition which his brother Celt has.

"It's fantastic for the island and a day to be proud of - we're very proud," said Llinos.

Llinos, Celt and Seren have come to support Jac carrying the baton

What is the relay?

The first baton was handed to the Duke of Edinburgh at the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff by Welsh rugby international and sprinter Ken Jones

The Queen's Baton Relay has been a Commonwealth Games tradition since it first appeared at the 1958 games in Cardiff, when it was then the Empire Games.

The Birmingham 2022 relay began at Buckingham Palace in October last year, when the Queen placed her special message in the baton to be passed to Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox.

72 nations and territories

It was also the turn of Olympic gold medal boxer Lauren Price, from Ystrad Mynach in Caerphilly county, to pick it up as it began its journey across the globe.

The baton visits all 72 nations and territories in the Commonwealth before arriving back for the games to be opened.

It is only then that the Queen's message is taken from the baton and read out.

The baton was created by a team of artists and technologists in the west Midlands, fused from copper, aluminium and steel, and features a platinum strand to mark the Queen's special jubilee.

The baton is also full of technology, including a 360-degree camera, heart rate monitor, and atmospheric sensors.

Welsh boxer Lauren Price was one of the first to carry the 2022 baton when it started its relay around the world last year

The baton will now wind its way through Gwynedd, through the historic slate town of Bethesda, into the Snowdonia National Park with volunteer wardens.

It will end its first day in the Italianate village of Portmeirion - known as the location of the cult sixties TV show The Prisoner.

On Thursday, the baton will travel through Ceredigion, taking in coastal railways and a trip to the seaside at Llangrannog.

Day three on Friday sees the relay head through Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, including a re-enactment at Goodwick to mark the aborted invasion of Britain 225 years ago, when Jemima Nicholas famously forced French soldiers to surrender at the end of her pitchfork.

The emphasis is on energy as day four kicks off in Baglan, with a hydrogen powered car carrying the baton to Margam Park, before the relay heads to Aberfan and Merthyr Tydfil, where the baton will be taken on a zipwire at the former Tower Colliery at Hirwaun.

The final day of the tour will see the baton end a 500-mile journey around Wales, calling at Newport, Cardiff, and finally dropping in on the Swansea Airshow as it is parachuted on to the beach.

• LEGENDS OF WELSH SPORT: The greatest and most inspiring stories

• SLAMMED: The rise of the Wales rugby team