Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton arrived in Dar es Salaam from Rwanda, ready for a relay in the country, before being presented to President Jakaya Kikwete at the State House on Sunday.
President of the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), Rashid Gulam (centre) receives the Queen’s Baton from Commonwealth Games Council member and Kenyan Olympic legend Kipchoge Keino, upon its arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Looking on is Adam Best, who is Domestic Sector Manager, Queen’s Baton Relay.
The jet carrying the baton touched down at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) at around 2.00 pm and shortly thereafter a member of the Commonwealth Games Council member and Kenyan Olympic legend Kipchoge Keino, presented the baton to the President of the Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), Rashid Gulam.
Keino, who headed the team that brought the baton to Tanzania, took the opportunity to challenge the Tanzanian government to set strategies and regain their lost status in such events as Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
“I still believe that Tanzania has a lot of talented athletes of Filbert Bayi quality… the country just needs commitment and workable strategies to revamp what is currently in a deep slump,” he said.
Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Fenella Mukangara is scheduled to kick off the relay from 2pm at the National Stadium today, before handing over the baton to the British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dianna Patricia Melrose to race.
It will later proceed to the State House, where it will be presented to President Kikwete. Over 300 people are expected to be involved in the 12.4 kilometres race and among them are former Commonwealth and Olympians elites such as Gidamis Shahanga, Juma Ikangaa, Samson Ramadhan, Michael Yombayomba, Fabian Joseph, Zakaria Barrie and Hassan Matumla.
This year, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Games Federation and UNICEF have launched a ground-breaking partnership globally. In Tanzania, the event represents a unique opportunity for the TOC, the British High Commission, UNICEF and other partners to harness the power of sport to help children grow up healthy, happy and safe.
The Queen’s Baton relay in Tanzania will be themed around the slogan: “Stop Violence Against Children, Let Them Play.” UNICEF Representative in Tanzania, Jama Gulaid urged the public to participate and support the relay runners as they pass through the streets of Dar es Salaam.
Gulaid said ahead of tomorrow’s relay, the Queen’s Baton will visit the Children’s Cancer Ward at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). The Baton will be taken to Zanzibar tomorrow and this will be the second time the Queen’s Baton Relay has visited the island.
It will be relayed through the streets of Forodhani, Stone Town, Mji Mkongwe before being presented to Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein at the State House and later return to Dar es Salaam ready for the journey to Seychelles.
Tanzania is the 29th stop for the Queen’s Baton relay on its route through 70 Commonwealth countries and territories, covering over 190,000 kilometres. The relays were launched on October 9th last year at the Buckingham Palace in London, with the international route starting in India the following day.
Prior to arriving in Tanzania, the Baton has visited Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The Commonwealth Baton will reach England on May 31 for its final lap to Glasgow and the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on 23rd July.
Source Tanzania Daily News