Baton relay on

 By KYMLIE KARANI

WORKING towards your goals will make you achieve greater things in life, according to Ryan Pini.

The 2006 Commonwealth gold medalist made this comment during his speech at the end of the Queen’s Baton Relay yesterday at the Amini Park (Cricket Grounds).

He encouraged all the athletes and students to follow their dreams.

“Make it your challenge each day to reach that goal,” Pini recalled as he described that moment at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

The Queen’s Baton Relay attracted spectators as they cheered on the bearers while they carried the baton along the route starting from the Independence Hill by the PNG Olympic Committee president Sir John Dawanincura to the Amini Park where current PNG cricket star Rarua Dikana finished off.

The relay is the traditional curtain-raiser to the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The baton arrived in the country on Monday and will continue its visit to the Solomon Islands.

Among the 50 baton bearers was MP Sir Puka Temu.

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Michael Hooper said the significance of the Queen’s baton to all the 71 commonwealth countries was that it symbolised unity and cooperation in the commowealth of nations headed by Queen Elizabeth.

Interestingly, at the heart of the baton is the Queens message written on a parchment using linen and fibre which was hand-made in Glasgow and will be officially read during the Opening Ceremony.

The Queen’s Baton signifies Glasgow and Scotland’s culture and history. 

The handle is made of elm wood and contains a granite gemstone which will be gifted to each nation.

“The Queens Baton Relay is also a way of reminding the nations to get behind their athletes as they gear up for the games,” Hooper said.