The Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) has not yet selected all people who will be carrying the Queen’s Baton that is set to arrive in the country next month.

Namibia will be hosting the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) for the fifth time when it lands here on 13 December 2021, and not 5 December as earlier announced, en route to Birmingham, England, where the Commonwealth Games will take place next year.

Namibia is one of 19 Commonwealth nations on the African continent that will this year participate in the QBR, which has been the curtain raiser to every Commonwealth Games since 1958 in Cardiff, Wales.

In an interview with New EraSport yesterday, NNOC secretary general Joan Smit revealed they have not yet identified all baton bearers. 

“We are looking at members of the public to help in carrying the baton when it officially lands in the country,” she said.

The baton will arrive in Namibia via plane from South Africa.

“It will be received by the British High commissioner. There will be an event before it will be paraded around the city, and then make its way to the coastal towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay,” she added.

Meanwhile, the NNOC has extended an open invitation on its Facebook page to all residents of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund to be part of the QBR as bearers of the baton through the city parade. The QBR will be hosted in Walvis Bay on 14 December and in Swakopmund on 15 December 2021. 

“We invite you to sign up as bearers for the baton in your town and join the fun games and activities,” said the NNOC on Facebook.

Namibia hosted the baton relay in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017. It will come to Namibia from South Africa, and then travel to Eswatini.

The relay for the 2022 Games commenced on 7 October 2021, and will travel over 140 000 kilometres for more than 290 days through 72 Commonwealth nations and territories.