History was made today as the Malaysia Pavilion joined the Commonwealth Games’ Queen’s Baton Relay held outside of the Commonwealth countries for the first time, right at Expo 2020 Dubai in the UAE.

Malaysia Pavilion gave a rousing welcome with pavilion members led by Michelle Lau Sook Yee, Malaysia Pavilion Director,and Wan Marina Awang Masbak, Deputy Pavilion Director, as they waved both Malaysian and British flags as baton bearer James Simpson arrived at the pavilion entrance with Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

They were welcomed with a dance by the cultural troupe from the National Department for Culture and Arts called ‘Rebab Mahkota’, which is commonly performed as a court dance to welcome guests.

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay was part of the UK Pavilion’s celebration of its National Day for Expo 2020 Dubai. Malaysia Pavilion joined other Commonwealth countries in the route of its historic tradition specially held for Expo 2020 Dubai.

Baton bearer James Simpson, a former soldier, lost his legs in Afghanistan in 2009 and later became Leeds Rhinos’ wheelchair captain and a 2021 Rugby League World Cup ambassador.

Lau said: “Malaysia’s relationship with the UK is one that has stood the test of time and it continues to flourish as we partake in numerous exchanges from culture, economy and trade to education.

“One of the momentous occasions in Malaysia’s history dates back to 1998, when we were the proud host of the 16^th Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur—the very first time the Games were hosted in an Asian country and the last Commonwealth Games of the 20th century.

“It truly is an honour to be part of this monumental event and on behalf of the Malaysia Pavilion, we extend our sincerest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations on the celebration of the UK’s National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai,” she said.

16^thCommonwealth Games’ Queen’s Baton Relay

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay began its journey, lasting 294 days, on the 7^th of October 2021 with a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The Baton is now travelling to all 72 Commonwealth territories and nations, connecting communities over 90,000 miles and finishing in Birmingham on 28^th July 2022 for the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. In a bid to reduce the carbon footprint, the baton will travel only half the distance than the previous Queen’s Baton Relay.

The baton has been specially created by designers and technologists from the West Midlands in a unique collaboration that fuses science, technology, engineering and art. Inside the baton, is a mechanised chamber holding a message from The Queen, to be read out at the Birmingham 2022 opening ceremony.

Unique features of the baton include a 360-degree camera to record and transmit stories from Commonwealth communities, a heartrate sensor which displays the heartbeats of baton bearers and atmospheric sensors with laser technology that analyses the environmental conditions wherever it is in the world. These atmospheric sensors are used to collect data samples which will be used to drive conversations around global air quality.