Excitement builds ahead of Baton arrival

By Nefertiti Matatia 16 November 2017, 12:00AM

The Queen’s Baton for the Commonwealth Games next year is scheduled to arrive on our shores next Thursday.

This was confirmed by the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) during a press conference.

Samoa will host the Queen’s Baton Relay from the 23rd – 26th of November, 2017.

Team Samoa’s Chef de Mission, Nynette Sass, says the baton will be received by the President of S.A.S.N.O.C., Fepulea’i Patrick Fepulea’i, at the Airport before travelling to Saina for the first baton bearer.

S.A.S.N.O.C.  aims to showcase the natural talents of Samoa and a lot of activities have been planned for the three days.

“We are looking at all different types of modes of transportation,” said Ms. Sass. “Which means that people would be walking and running, to have the baton on the bus, the high profile sites of Samoa, will be taking it to places to showcase our flee market. We want to showcase the natural talents that we have in Samoa.”

S.A.S.N.O.C. will also be using the baton relay to celebrate the international day of ending violence against women.

On Saturday 25 Novemver, U.N. Women, together with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) would be coordinating a fun run at Lalomanu.

 “They would start with a fun run for all the tsunami survivors; there would be schools and other organisations that would be taking a bus to Lalomanu to join the fun run. 

“They have specifically asked to have the baton lead this fun run. This is all about celebrating our people, our youth, our children and our women and by doing this we could also share the message of ending violence.”

On the other hand, this is also an opportunity for the athletes that will be going to the Commonwealth Games to hold the baton.

“All members of the S.A.S.N.O.C. have been asked to nominate at least two of their athletes that would be going to the game to join in the baton relay,” said Nynette.

Ms. Sass anybody who wanted to be a baton bearer must pay $500 and they would also receive an official baton bearer shirt. 

Furthermore, this is also a fundraising event to help the Team Samoa that will be going to the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year.

By Nefertiti Matatia 16 November 2017, 12:00AM
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