BY BEN JOHNSON — The Queen’s Baton Relay is a relay around the world held before the beginning of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the biggest sports event to be held in the UK for a decade. It carries a message from Queen Elizabeth II and this year is themed Sustainability, Youth and Inclusion.
The Queen’s Baton visited Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort on the Coral Coast on February 13, recognizing the hotel’s (and company’s) global conservation initiative, OZONE (Outrigger’s ZONE) centered on coral health and resiliency in the waters surrounding the iconic beaches of Outrigger resorts.
The Queen’s Baton Relay, along with hosts and guests of Outrigger, had the opportunity to be part of the solution, by helping to plant coral at the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort (FOR). As you know, FOR’s program includes coral propagation racks and fish houses built as part of a teen-guest activity program organized by resort hosts.
The efforts of Outrigger Fiji’s coral planting highlights sustainability projects by involving guests and hosts along with Perry, the Mascot of Birmingham 2022 (a bull adorned with a patchwork of multi-colored hexagons). Perry was the inspiration of 10-year-old Emma Lou from Bolton who won a national design competition tasking children from 5-15 years old to create a mascot that reflects the identity, heritage and culture of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The Fiji Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) applauds Outrigger Fiji for its willingness to partner with the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay. Fiji Commonwealth Games Association Secretary-General, Lorraine Mar, said Fiji is a unique country, surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, but as a Pacific Island Nation, we are now feeling the effects of climate change.
Conservation efforts such as coral planting will go a long way in fighting climate change, and we are pleased to showcase Outrigger Fiji’s efforts to the world and excited to make a difference.
The Baton also planted trees at Sigatoka Sand Dunes later in the day as part of Fiji’s 30 million tree-planting goal by 2035.
The final runner of the relay will hand the baton back to the Queen or her representative who reads the message carried throughout the world and officially opens the Commonwealth Games.
