Children are the main focus of the Queen’s Baton visit to Niue
A wonderful presentation earlier today from the Niue Primary School children as they welcomed the Queen’s baton at the Utuko Reef junction in Alofi. Clearly highlighting the significance of ‘children’ being the main focus of the Queen’s baton visit to Niue as stated by NISCGA President Maru Talagi.
Before this remarkable event, the Queen’s Baton made a brief visit to the new Fale Fono at Halamahaga at 8:30am this morning where it was welcomed by the Premier and Cabinet Ministers.
The baton was escorted by the President of NISCGA Maru Talagi and received into Cabinet Chambers by the Premier Dalton Tagelagi and the Minister of Sports Sauni Tongatule.
The Queen’s baton is the first international guest to be inside the new Fale Fono and Fono Ekepule Chambers.
After a photo op in Cabinet, the baton was escorted to the Utuko junction where it was welcomed by the senior students of Niue Primary School (Year 5 & 6) who were beautifully dressed in their cultural wear and Queen’s baton t-shirts. Aziana Sionetama was the batonbearer amongst the students.
BCN news spoke to a couple of students about what this momentous occasion means to them. They responded that this was their first time to hold the Queen’s baton.
The Commonwealth Games mascot ‘Perry the Bull’ also took the spotlight this morning. The mascot was placed inside a miniature vaka and went for a ride at Utuko reef before coming back up to join the procession to Paliati.
The students then lined the road from Utuko where Aziana Sionetama held the Baton and began the relay up Peta hill where the rest of the Niue Primary School children made the line up to Paliati.
The baton relay was welcomed by another beautiful takalo when it finally reached Niue Primary School. Parents, families and friends gathered to take pictures of their children with the Queen’s baton.
BCN news was also able to speak to one of the organisers of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Niue Hagen Siosikefu about the events of the day.
Mr. Siosikefu said that they planned to have both schools in the program for today but Niue High School had other commitments. Nevertheless, it was an exciting and memorable day for the children of Niue Primary School.
BCN news will continue the coverage of the Queen’s Baton’s visit to Niue on it’s 16th Official Relay. It will leave Niue on for New Zealand on Monday next week before returning to Birmingham England for the Commonwealth games in July.
