The Queen's Relay Baton has arrived in Samoa after traveling around Fiji for the past few days with the relay coming ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth games this year in Birmingham. 

The baton relay is the Commonwealth Games' answer to the Olympic torch relay and is making its way around countries within the Commonwealth of Nations realm, before reaching its final destination: the location of the year's games. The 2022 Games will be held in the English city of Birmingham. 

The UK High Commission in Apia, Tise Fauolo, confirmed on Monday that the baton has arrived in Samoa in response to Samoa Observer email queries.

The baton contains a personal message which was signed personally by Queen Elizabeth II, the head of the Commonwealth. 

The relay began at the Buckingham Palace in London, before undertaking a global journey. The final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games.

The Queen's Baton Relay will be held in Samoa this Thursday and will start at the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (S.A.S.N.O.C.) Gymnasium, then head towards the Samoa International Cricket Oval, Lakapi Samoa Gymnasium, Netball Indoor Courts, Government Buildings, and making its final stop at the Samoa International Cricket Association.

Athletes from weightlifting, cricket, rugby 7s, athletics, netball, wrestling, basketball, judo, boxing, beach volley, lawn bowls, swimming, table tennis, Government representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps will take part in the programme on Thursday.

The baton will then be making its way to Tonga later this weeks and will be travelling around the Pacific islands region this month.

The baton commenced its journey in Cyprus on 9 October 2021 after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II placed her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and will end in England on 4 July 2022.

The message in the baton is in a mechanised chamber beneath the brass leaf plaque, which will be opened at the Birmingham 2022 opening ceremony.

The Queen's Baton Relay will travel for 294 days will igniting hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation.

The baton will spend between two and four days in each nation or territory, covering approximately 140,000 kilometres with over 7,500 baton bearers.