Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay arrives in Singapore with University of Birmingham

As the Queen’s Baton heads for Singapore, University of Birmingham experts gather to explore solutions to global challenges facing Singapore.

University of Birmingham experts are leading a series of high-profile events exploring how researchers can help to solve global challenges affecting the people of Singapore.

The events celebrate the arrival in Singapore of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay, of which the University is an official partner.

In Singapore, the virtual events feature a range of top British and Singapore experts, and cover areas such as sport and Shakespeare. They include:

• 17 January - Applied Research to Improve Sports Performance webinar. Led by Birmingham sports scientists and co-hosted by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
• 18 January - The Business of Sport in a Digital Age - panel discussion at Singapore Institute of Management examining the impact of digitisation on sports, fitness and wellness and how Singapore businesses are driving global innovation.
• 18 January - online screening of documentary Shaking a Singapore Spear, followed by discussion about Shakespeare's place in Singaporean youth culture with the film's maker Hans Rall of Nanyang Technical University (see Notes for Editors for participation details).

The Queen’s Baton Relay events are underpinned by Commonwealth-wide celebrations for staff, students and alumni and the #gamechangingbirmingham campaign.

Batonbearers will carry the Baton to Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) – the University’s partner campus, which is currently closed to the public – on 18 January. It will be welcomed by Alex Bamford, Deputy Head of Mission at the British High Commission Singapore, University of Birmingham representatives and some of the 600 students studying Birmingham business programmes at SIM.

The University has selected five Batonbearers in Singapore:

• Alvin Ho - alumnus and joint founder of digital sports organisation Fitivate
• Ting Ting Koh - Captain of Singapore’s National Women’s Water Polo team
• Terry Tay - Captain of Singapore’s National Gymnastics team
• Hazel Westwood - Director of International Education (Singapore), University of Birmingham
• Bernard Tan – Alumnus, philanthropist and President (Singapore) of Sinar Mas

Speaking about the Baton’s arrival in Singapore, Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Birmingham commented: “The University of Birmingham is a civic university with a global outlook. Our Commonwealth connections are deep and wide-ranging, particularly in Singapore, where we have engaged for many decades in education and research partnerships.

“Sport is a unifying force and, as part of our commitment to supporting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, we are holding a series of academic, student and partner events in Commonwealth countries to coincide with the Queen’s Baton Relay visit.

“I am delighted that we can hold these exciting events, focussing on how we work collaboratively with research and education partners in Singapore to tackle global challenges and help improve the quality of life for people throughout Singapore.”

Her Excellency Kara Owen, British High Commissioner to Singapore. commented: “More than just a journey through the Commonwealth nations and territories, The Queen’s Baton Relay connects communities and creates opportunities to celebrate the power of collaboration, sport, ideas and innovation. The Baton’s arrival in Singapore not only shines a spotlight on sporting excellence but on the strength of the UK-Singapore partnership across education, trade, science and culture. We look forward to inspiring a future generation of leaders at the first ever carbon-neutral Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.” 

The University’s environmental scientists have helped create a hi-tech ‘heart’ for the Queen’s Baton, which contains atmospheric sensors with laser technology that analyses the environmental conditions wherever it is in the world. Augmented Reality (AR) will be used to visualise creatively data captured throughout the journey to invite conversations around air quality across the Commonwealth.

Data collected on the Baton’s journey will contribute to ongoing research projects being conducted across the globe by a team led by atmospheric scientist Professor Francis Pope who said, “Atmospheric data captured during the Baton’s global journey will be highly valuable in starting important conversations around air quality across the Commonwealth.”

• For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)782 783 2312. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165. 
• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 9,000 international students from over 150 countries.
• The University has the most extensive education partnership of any Commonwealth Games and will host the athletes in its student accommodation, as well as providing a venue for hockey and squash.

NTU presents Birmingham 2022 Queens Baton Relay showing of ‘Shaking a Singapore Spear’ (17 mins) and Q & A
Date: Tuesday, 18 January 2022
Time: 6.00 pm (Singapore Time), 10.00 am (United Kingdom Time)

Zoom Details
Meeting ID: 919 9356 1351
Passcode: 019776

NUS presents Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay Forum on Shakespeare in Singapore and Malaysia (45 mins)
Date: Tuesday, 18 January 2022
Time: 8.00 pm (Singapore Time), 12.00 pm (United Kingdom Time)

Zoom Details
Meeting ID: 920 971 5263
Passcode: 145638

• The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Games tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across the Commonwealth nations during the build up to the Games.
• Birmingham 2022 is staging the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – an epic journey across the Commonwealth, with The Queen’s Baton visiting all 72 nations and territories, reaching Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and the Americas.
• The Relay began on 7 October 2021 at a special event at Buckingham Palace, where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II placed Her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton.
• The Baton will travel for 294 days, visiting all 72 nations and territories and connecting communities in every corner of the Commonwealth, embracing unique cultures and sharing stories. 
• This collective journey will ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation, with these stories leaving us all inspired to take on the challenges that matter most to us.  

• The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a major opportunity to feature the city, the region, and its people on the global stage.   
• The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.   
• Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.