The Queen’s Baton Relay has reached the Cook Islands and will be formally welcomed at special ceremony at the Queen’s Residence in Titikaveka this afternoon.

The Baton carrying message to the athletes of the Commonwealth Games, signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be in Rarotonga until early next week.

Launched from Buckingham Palace on October 7, 2021 by the Queen, the Baton’s international route spans an impressive 269 days, spending between two to four days in each nation or territory, covering approximately 140,000 kilometres.

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee acting secretary general Joryna Pokura said the Baton arrived in Oceania on January 30, and has made its way through Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Niue and is finally here in the Cook Islands.

From here it will travel to Norfolk Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. The Cook Islands will be the 41^st Commonwealth Games association the Baton will visit.

Pokura said: “Due to the Covid pandemic the Baton will not be doing its traditional relay around the island, but instead will be taken on various activities to showcase the beautiful people and culture of the Cook Islands.”

The Baton will be welcomed and hosted by the Queen’s Representative Sir Tom Marsters at his residence in Titikaveka.

Following this, the Baton will be taken on a journey showcasing the “night life” of the Cook Islands. On Sunday morning, the Baton will be taken to the Takuvaine Arepua AOG church for service and a ride around the island after that. It will then spend the evening at the Edgewater Resort and Spa for their buffet dinner night with live music from Ru and The Boys.  

On Monday morning, the Baton will spend an hour from 9am to 10am at the Punanga Nui Market for anyone who wants to take a closer look and, in the afternoon, it will be taken on an adventure run/cycle which begins from YWAM at 4pm.

“The Baton will then be packaged and shipped out on Tuesday 8^th March to continue its journey around the Commonwealth before returning to its final destination, the United Kingdom where the message inside will be read aloud to the world at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games,” Pokura said.

“The Queen’s Baton symbolises hope, solidarity, and collaboration across the Commonwealth which is what’s needed most during these trying times.”

Queen’s Baton 2022 programme: Saturday 5th March – 3pm – Queen’s Residence, Titikaveka – Welcoming Ceremony (organised by the Queen’s Representative), 6pm – 10pm Night Life – Baton will be taken on a tour of the ‘night life’ in the Cook Islands;

Sunday 6th March – 10am – 12pm – AOG church in Takuvaine – Church Service with Baton. (Will be run by the church), 1pm – 4pm – Around the Island – JOY ride and various stops at significant locations, 5:30pm – 8pm – Edgewater Resort & Spa – BBQ Buffet Dinner and entertainment (Edgewater Host and walk-in, organised by their staff); Monday 7th March – 9am – 10am – Punanga Nui Market – Display of baton will be set up and anyone who wants to visit to take a look or get pictures may do so, 11am – 1pm – Bank of the Cook Islands – Opportunity for BCI to have Baton, 2pm – 3pm – Vodafone Cook Islands, 4pm – 6pm – YWAM Roland will be organising – they will take baton on a mountain bike track.