Queen's Baton Relay Route Activities Revealed

Countdown to the Commonwealth Games gathers pace.

Fife has revealed the detail for a day of celebration to welcome the Queen's Baton Relay to the area as part of the Games for Scotland programme on Thursday 26 June.

The Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, will welcome the baton to Fife at Knockhill Racing Circuit in the morning where it will take in a lap on a superbike.

The baton will then spend the day in Fife and take in sights including Dunfermline Abbey, coastal villages (and travel by RNLI lifeboat between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy no less!) and will then move on to places including Falkland Palace and the East Neuk before arriving in St Andrews for a carnival-themed parade!

Fife Council's Active Fife team will be delivering a range of active celebrations on the day including the opportunity for people of all ages to try some of the 17 Commonwealth Games sports and an attempt at the world's biggest ceilidh! The activity will form part of the Games for Scotland programme, managed by EventScotland, which forms a key part of Legacy 2014 - the Scottish Government's commitment to deliver a lasting legacy as a result of the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland.

Around 100 children will welcome the Queen's Baton Relay when it makes a morning stop at Dalgety Bay Sports Centre. They will take part in a free run-jump-throw athletics session and will have the opportunity to touch the baton.

Meanwhile at Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre in Glenrothes, the finalists of the Going for Gold competition will be battling it out. The annual competition between care homes encourages the elderly to try out a new activity and to keep active. Teams from 58 care homes across Fife are currently battling it out in a “Walk the Commonwealth Step Count Challenge” and are training at New Age Kurling, carpet bowls, boccia, basketball shoots and other fun sports in preparation for the final. The Baton Relay will visit the centre at lunchtime as part of this event to commend their efforts!

It's then on to Falkland where over 150 children from Falkland Primary School and nursery will take part in a cultural-themed dance and Commonwealth Games taster activity session at Falkland Palace.

Later in the afternoon around 300 people will welcome the baton to Duffus Park in Cupar where a closing ceremony for a local Commonweath Games event will be taking place with Olympic Bronze medallist curler Anna Sloan.

Finally, a carnival atmosphere will welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to St Andrews where people will line the streets to watch a parade travel along South Street, North Street and down to West Sands. They'll then be encouraged to follow the baton to West Sands for more entertainment and the chance to take part in a record breaking attempt at the world’s biggest ceilidh!

The Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman, is pleased that so many people will have the opportunity to not only welcome the baton to their community, but to take part in the celebrations too. He said: 

"Hundreds of Fifers will be taking part in these events. It's an opportunity for them to be active, try out a new sport or activity and be part of the exciting build up to the Games in Glasgow. I'm looking forward to welcoming the baton into Fife at Knockhill and then ending the day of celebration in a fitting manner with some ceilidh dancing in St Andrews!"

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: 

"The XX Commonwealth Games are fast approaching and, as we gear up to what will be the best Games ever, I am delighted that the Games for Scotland programme is going strong, encouraging communities across the country to feel part of the excitement that is building around the event.

"The programme, which is part of our Legacy 2014 pledge, has already inspired thousands of people in Scotland to take part in sport and cultural activities. We are showing the world that we are a nation proud of our culture and diversity, and that this legacy will continue long after the closing ceremony of the Games at Hampden Park."

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: 

"We are delighted to be working with Fife Council to deliver an inspiring and motivating event, building excitement in the run up to the Games. The Games for Scotland programme has been spreading the message of the Games around Scotland’s communities since 2010 and has proved to be hugely popular. The diverse programme of sport and dance events, which this year additionally celebrate the arrival of the Queen's Baton Relay, extend the legacy of the Games beyond the host city to benefit communities throughout Scotland."

David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, said: 

"The Queen's Baton Relay is an opportunity for thousands of people across Scotland to join the celebrations of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. By cheering on batonbearers and joining the events and activities in their communities, people up and down the nation will be taking part in a unique moment, one that will be remembered for years to come."