Thousands of people will today (Monday 31 March, 2014) learn they are carrying the Queen’s Baton, a thank-you from communities all across Scotland to the extraordinary individuals who make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Up to 4,000 batonbearers from all 32 Local Authorities will join the relay in more than 400 communities for 40 days, in what is the most engaging relay the nation has ever seen.

Thousands of people will be notified by email on whether their nominations have been successful.
For the first time in the history of any relay, all 545 secondary schools in Scotland were invited to nominate a pupil to participate as a batonbearer.

Community batonbearers have been selected by independent panels, who have considered people’s achievements against the odds, their mentoring of young people, contributions to community and youth sport, and those who make a difference through volunteering and community support.

The Queen’s Baton journey has been developed to share the excitement of Scotland’s countdown to the Commonwealth Games with as many people as possible.

The relay will reflect the important role of sport by visiting schools, sporting facilities and leisure centres, encouraging communities to get behind Team Scotland, get involved with the Games and use its profile to get more people participating in sport.

On 23 July, the message Her Majesty placed in the baton will be read at the Opening Ceremony.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is the world’s most engaging relay, a unique tradition of the Games that unites the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. It will travel over 190,000 kilometres through 69 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, before arriving in Scotland on 14 June.

Those nominees who have not been successful will have the opportunity to be a part of the relay by attending the vast programme of sports and cultural events taking place along the route.

Community and schools batonbearers include:

Community batonbearer Linda Anderson-Kerr (55), from Oban.
Linda has been nominated for her volunteering work with Distance Highland Befrienders, supporting people who live in remote and rural areas, and who experience mental health issues or have dementia. Reacting to her successful nomination, Linda said:

“When I found out I was to be a batonbearer I was quite overcome to be honest, it’s a great honour. The Queen’s Baton symbolises the coming together of Commonwealth Nations. My volunteering work is about community inclusiveness and trying to stop isolation, and so, on some level, it’s parallel to what the Queen’s Baton is all about. To be chosen is just amazing; it’s a bit of history I’m getting to be a wee part of.”

Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman Michael Cavanagh said:
“The athletes striving to be selected for Team Scotland will be truly inspired by the determination, courage and selflessness shown by all the selected batonbearers in different walks of Scottish life, and their commitment to helping others. It is fantastic that they are being recognised and rewarded with a coveted place in Scotland’s leg of the Queens Baton Relay and we thank them for their enthusiasm and support. We are confident the Queen’s Baton Relay will get the whole country behind the Games and Team Scotland in particular, as we collectively make our final journey to Glasgow 2014.”