Athletics community represented in 100-day Australian journey of Queen’s Baton Relay

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed the list of approximately 3,800 Australians who will carry the Queen’s Baton on its 100-day journey across the nation in the leadup to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Premier said the list of names, selected through a community nomination program, is a great reflection of Australia.

“The lists of names have been compiled by judging panels in each state and territory, allowing local knowledge to play the greatest possible role in the selection process,” the Premier said.

“The batonbearers recognise the achievements and aspirations of Australians from all walks of life, from ambitious 10-year-olds to humble volunteers and well-known Australians from a variety of fields.

“Collectively, our batonbearers will take more than a million steps through every state and territory, sharing the excitement of GC2018 with regional and remote communities.”

The Premier also revealed the uniform that batonbearers will get to wear with pride as they carry the Baton.

“It will be a treasured keep-sake of their special role in GC2018,” she said.

Minister for the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones said the batonbearers were in for the experience of a lifetime - one that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.

“I’m proud that so many inspirational Queenslanders have taken up the Baton to be part of our country’s biggest ever sporting event.

“The Games is our once in a lifetime opportunity to show the world what Queensland has to offer.”

Among those named today, are members of the vast Australian athletics community including athletes, coaches and officials from days past and present.

Nathan Deakes, 2007 world championship gold medallist in the 50km walk and Athens Olympic bronze medallist in the 20km walk, will likely be taking his leg of the relay a little slower than what the public came to expect throughout his decorated career.

"The Queen's Baton Relay is the foremost way to take the Commonwealth Games experience to the public, not just in Australia where the Games are this time around, but to the Commonwealth as a whole. And this includes my own family, who I am looking forward to sharing my leg of the Relay with," Deakes said.

Deakes will carry the Queen’s Baton in Canberra.

Athletics Australia will keep you up to date with with the news and stories of the Queen's Baton Relay around the country, so stay tuned.

The Baton lands in Brisbane to start the final leg of its journey on Christmas Eve this year.

For one month during the school summer holidays, the Queen’s Baton will visit major events, iconic landmarks and children’s hospitals across the country.

The traditional relay will resume in Canberra on 25 January 2018 and will be carried by great Australians through QBR celebration communities around the country.

The Baton’s activity during the school holidays and the street-level detail through celebration communities will be revealed on 17 November.

Since its launch from Buckingham Palace on 13 March 2017, the Baton has inspired athletes and fans across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe. Currently it is in Malaysia and is set to visit the remaining 15 Commonwealth nations in Asia and Oceania before arriving in Australia on Christmas Eve. It will be 60 years since a Baton first carried Her Majesty’s message to athletes of the Commonwealth at the Cardiff 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Wales.

Batonbearer names and the communities that they will carry the Baton in are available at gc2018.com/qbr