On Sunday 17th July, the Queen's Baton Relay finally arrived in Stockport, before continuing its journey across the UK towards Birmingham for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The event was a resounding success, which saw roaring support from members of the public along Stockport's relay route and around St Peter's Square. The baton was triumphantly carried by our nominated runners, many of whom are from Stockport, alongside the support of the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay team.
Through a collaborative effort, our Batonbearers were able to deliver the baton to its final stop outside the Town Hall, and were met with cheers and applause from friends, family and the general public in a wonderful show of community spirit.
St Peter's Square in the heart of Stockport was brought to life and transformed with exciting activities and events, including tug-of-war, netball from England Netball and live martial arts demonstrations from Master Sken Muay Thai Academy. Active Community Experiences group (ACE) were also in attendance, along with their mascot, to deliver free family fun and multi-sports activities.
It was a true spectacle to see Stockport come together in celebrating such a historic event and being able to put together a memorable experience that all could enjoy. Mayor of Stockport, Councillor David Wilson was also present at the event, who delivered a special speech, spent time chatting with residents and joined in with the festivities.
Councillor Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council had the following to say about the day's events:
"I was absolutely thrilled to see residents from across the borough come together in a show of support for our runners, who have all shared their own inspiring stories, personal challenges, and experiences. As I hoped, St. Peter's Square was filled with laughter and celebration from those getting stuck in with the various activities on offer. It was so much fun to behold, a great honour, and I'm glad that we had such a fantastic turnout for Stockport to play its part in the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games."
Make sure to tune in for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which starts on the 28th of July.
For more information, and for a full rundown of the schedule for the Commonwealth Games 2022, visit https://www.birmingham2022.com/