Manchester 2002
The Queen’s Baton Relay commenced from Buckingham Palace, London
on 11 March 2002. The baton travelled internationally through 23
Commonwealth Nations – more than 100,000 km in 87 days before
travelling for 50 days throughout the UK being carried by 5,000
batonbearers. The relay concluded during the Games Opening Ceremony
on 25 July 2002 where the baton was presented to Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II by the final batonbearers: David Beckham (Footballer)
and Kirsty Howard (a seriously ill young girl notable for her
charity work). H.M. the Queen took her message from the baton and
read it aloud, officially declaring the games open.
The Queen’s Baton,
The baton was made of machined aluminium with the handle plated
for conductivity. Inside the baton handle, sensors detected and
monitored the batonbearer’s pulse rate, conveying it to a series of
light emitting diodes (LEDs), via a light behaviour module. The
lens then transformed the LEDs into a dramatic blade of pulsating
light. The ‘pulse’ responded to the rhythm of the batonbearer’s
heartbeat. The rhythm of a human heartbeat was the core of the
baton design. The baton expressed both the uniqueness of the
individual and the common rhythm of humanity. It evoked the
collective consciousness, unity, energy and journey through
life.
The Queen’s message was held in an aluminium capsule inserted
into the top of the baton. Two sterling silver coins designed by
H.M. The Queen’s jeweller, appeared on either side of the baton,
celebrating the City of Manchester as host of the games.
The baton was 710 mm high and 42.5 mm to 85 mm in diameter. It
weighed 1.69kg.