The first Edinburgh leg of the Glasgow 2014 Queen's Baton Relay took place at Heriot-Watt University in the presence of Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners' Rights, The Rt. Hon. Donald Wilson, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, as well as University Principal Professor Steve Chapman.
The route took the runners past the site of the forthcoming National Performance Centre for Sport.
The Baton was handed to Professor Chapman by Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland, in the presence of Shona Robison and Donald Wilson, and then handed on to the first Baton Bearer, local school pupil Cameron Finlayson.
With so many schoolchildren and others learning all they can about the Commonwealth Games and taking on so many activities related to the baton, this is a great opportunity to provide a fun way to welcome it here at Heriot-Watt.
The ten Baton bearers included Christopher Sellar, Community Sport Hub Coordinator, South-West Edinburgh Community Sport Hub (at Heriot-Watt University) as well as Andrew Frost: Hammer Throw, Team Scotland and a number of local pupils.
To celebrate the Queen's Baton Relay a free carnival of family sports activity was organised by South-West Edinburgh Community Sport Hub, showcasing a number of local clubs through taster sessions and demonstrations to visitors. These included 'come and try' sessions for bowls, table tennis, golf, rugby, weightlifting, gymnastics and dance. Heriot-Watt students and staff held sessions for football, tennis and Gaelic football as well as fitness routines, and conducted campus walks for those wishing to explore the University.
Food stalls and children's fun play activities added to the enjoyment on the day with information stands on site promoting a wide range of local services and activities. The winners of two primary school competitions encouraging pupils to design and make their own batons and their own Glasgow 2014 poster were announced, with the best entries displayed near the information stalls.
Catriona McAllister, Heriot-Watt's Head of Sport and Exercise and Director of the NPCS said, "The arrival of the baton in Edinburgh is a signal that Scotland's summer of sport is well and truly under way. With so many schoolchildren and others learning all they can about the Commonwealth Games and taking on so many activities related to the baton, this is a great opportunity to provide a fun way to welcome it here at Heriot-Watt, which is now set to become Scotland's national sporting centre."
The Lord Provost Donald Wilson said, "It is fantastic that the Edinburgh leg of the Queen's Baton Relay begins at Heriot-Watt, home to Scotland's National Performance Centre for Sport. There are some fantastic family and community activities on offer at Heriot-Watt, and it is a great way to send the baton on its way around the capital."