Queen’s Baton ‘excites’ Nyanza residents

“I am humbled and honored to be part of this prestigious event, I can’t believe I was among the few chosen ones to hold the Queen’s Baton and move with it up to the King’s Palace Museums.”

Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Judith Nyinawumwami, a farmer in Nyanza, hands over the Queenu2019s Baton to the Director for Research and Publications Jerome Karangwa. Times Sport / S. Kwihangana.

"I am humbled and honored to be part of this prestigious event, I can’t believe I was among the few chosen ones to hold the Queen’s Baton and move with it up to the King’s Palace Museums.” Those were the words of Judith Nyinawumwami, a farmer in Nyanza district in the Southern Province, after carrying the Queen’s Baton to the King’s Palace Museum before handing it over to the director for Research and Publications Jerome Karangwa.The Queen’s Baton arrived at the King’s Palace Museum on Thursday afternoon at around 12:50pm from Musanze district in the Northern Province. Several museum officials carried the Baton as they showed the delegates around the museum as they explained the history of Kingdoms.The visitors were also shown the Rwandan traditional cows "Inyambo” mainly known for their impressive long horns, and traditional poems. Kenya National Olympic Chairman, Kipchoge Keino, who is heading the Queen’s Baton delegation on its African relay said the Baton strengthens the friendship between commonwealth countries and it’s a call for them to prepare their teams for the event.The Rwanda National Olympic Committee president, Robert Bayigamba, in his speech said: "We feel proud to be part of the Commonwealth and it’s an honor for Rwanda and its future relationship, friendship with the Commonwealth. This is evidence that Rwanda has been officially accepted to take part in the Commonwealth Games,” he stated.The Queen’s Baton Relay is a treasured tradition of the Commonwealth Games and symbolises the coming together of all Commonwealth nations and territories in preparation for the festival of sport and culture held every four years .The Baton passed through Rwanda for the first time ever; it arrived in the country on Wednesday and left for Tanzania on Saturday.