Queen’s Baton Relay arrives at University of Birmingham smart campus in Dubai

The University of Birmingham Dubai today welcomed the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay, coinciding with UK National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday.

Student Batonbearers carried the Baton into the University’s iconic new campus to be welcomed by Lord Karan Bilimoria, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, in a ceremony that blended UK and Arabic culture.

The ceremony saw three Batonbearers carry the Baton onto the new smart campus in Academic City, accompanied by a camel – the traditional form of transport in the UAE. Acting as a Batonbearer himself, Lord Bilimoria walked the Baton into the campus building and placed it on a display plinth.

University of Birmingham Dubai Provost Professor David Sadler joined Lord Bilimoria in addressing an audience that included staff and students from the Dubai campus.

The Baton later departed for Expo 2020 Dubai aboard an electric vehicle, signifying the sustainable future of transport in the UAE and Birmingham 2022’s aim to create a carbon-neutral legacy.

Lord Bilimoria was joined by University of Birmingham Provost and Vice-Principal Professor, Tim Jones, and Dame Louise Martin, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, and Birmingham City Council Leader Cllr Ian Ward for speeches to guests.

Traditional Al Ayala Dancers greeted guests, including representatives of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Games Federation, Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Growth Company, celebrating the University’s civic-global connections.

Speaking about the Baton’s arrival in Dubai, Lord Bilimoria commented:

“It is pertinent that the Queen’s Baton Relay has arrived for UK National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. The UK has strong links with the UAE and the University of Birmingham aligned with the country’s national objectives of nurturing talent and developing the industries of the future.

“We are a civic university with a global outlook and I am delighted to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay to our iconic new Dubai campus ahead of the Baton’s visit to Expo 2020 Dubai for UK National Day.

“Sport is a unifying force and, as part of our commitment to supporting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, we are playing the most significant role of any university in the Games’ history. Hockey and squash competitions will take place on our UK campus, where we will also host 3,000 elite athletes from around the world.

“Whether studying in Birmingham or Dubai, our students form one international academic community, and we believe they will be excited by the University’s involvement in such a major global sporting event.”

Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, commented:

"The University of Birmingham - including the staff and students in Dubai - are an important part of Birmingham's civic family. So, as we draw ever closer to this summer's Commonwealth Games, it is entirely fitting that the Queen’s Baton Relay should include student Batonbearers from this amazing new campus.

"As someone who was born in Birmingham and has lived there all my life, I'm immensely proud of the University. It was England's first civic university over 120 years ago and continues to be one of our city's key anchor institutions to this very day.

"Now, as we see in the UAE, the University represents Birmingham on the global stage and everyone associated with the Dubai campus take pride in the key role their University will play in what I am confident will be the best ever Commonwealth Games."

The University of Birmingham Dubai’s selected student Batonbearers were:

• Tanvi Malhotra – final year BSc Economics
• Arjun Muralidharan – second year BSc Accounting and Finance