Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana on Monday, received the Queen’s Barton Relay at the Flagstaff House.
The baton was accompanied by the Ghana Olympic Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Australian High Commissioner and Dr. Zanetor Rawlings.
Dr. Bawumia started the relay at the flagstaff house after which it was transported through the principal streets of Accra to the Theodora Oko Hockey, pitch where it was welcomed by a host of senior high schools.
Mr. Richard Akpokavie, the General Secretary of the GOC Olympic in an interview with the GNA Sports, stated how important it was for Ghana to receive the Queen’s baton.
The baton carries a powerful message from the Queen to all the Commonwealth countries and we are delighted to have it here in Ghana.
"We have had a very simple and nice welcoming of the baton, it arrived in Ghana from Sierra Leon on Saturday, and on Sunday, we met the Australian high commissioner with it, where there was a fund raising dinner to support the GOC.
"But for us the most important part of this event is the involvement of some of our youth from the senior high schools. Sports is about the young ones and this is an opportunity to tell these students that there is something they can aspire to.
"They must dream of becoming part of the commonwealth youth games in future and that is why we have given them the opportunity to hold and take pictures with the baton. I know it will be symbolic for them as they grow.
"The baton will be transported to Cape Coast for the students of Nfantsipim and Holy Child School to have a feel of it on Tuesday before it leaves Ghana" Mr. Akpokavi.
The Queens Baton relay will cover about 145,000 miles en route to its final destination in Gold Coast, Australia for the opening ceremony of the commonwealth games in April 2018.
<<Print>>