Baton takes trip down memory lane across Canada

The next stop was Edmonton, whose 1978 Games left a legacy of a sports-mad city that continues to stage regional, national and international events each year. On arrival, the Baton made a first quarter cameo appearance at a Friday night Canadian Football League game between the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions. The 38,000 strong crowd threw their hand’s hight at the home team’s winning touchdown, but not before the Baton was retrieved from the stands! A further 3-million were watching on TV at home. The pretty harbour city of Victoria, of the 1994 Games, started its mini Relay with the Mayor, Lisa Helps who said: ” I like to think of the Baton as a uniting gold thread that weaves the spirit of excellence, inclusion and diversity through the Commonwealth.” The Baton’s last stop in Canada was in Vancouver, which similarly engaged its legends of yesteryear to show the coming together of the past with the present and Canada’s visceral connection to the Commonwealth and the Games. At the Jamaica 1966 Games Elaine ‘ Might Mouse’ Tanner won four gold medals and three silvers, becoming the first woman to ever win four golds at a Commonwealth Games. The still fit and sprightly Mighty Mouse the honour of carrying the Queen’s Baton nearly 50 years since she last competed was a moving moment. “Sports transcends us; it takes us around the world so that we can understand how others live. When we compete, we share the commonality of excellence, that is what brings us together, these are the roots of the Commonwealth Games; it’s healthy competition, not divisive. And Australia! What a great place to host these next games, my eyes will be glued to the TV screen next year. [gallery type="columns" link="none" size="large" ids="24708,24709,24710,24711,24712,24713,24714,24715,24716,24717"]]]>