By Royal Australian Mint ......
The first two of a series of Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) commemorative collectible coins were revealed on March 13 at a Commonwealth Day celebration at the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre.
Queensland Minister for Education, Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones MP unveiled the gold and silver GC2018 Queen’s Baton Relay coins which see the Gold Coast featured on a Royal Australian Mint coin for the very first time.
City of Gold Coast Acting Mayor Donna Gates, Royal Australian Mint CEO Ross MacDiarmid, and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Deputy Chief Executive Officer Brian Nourse were also in attendance.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Day Message was read by Minister Jones and shared with students and principals from the 112 schools in the GC2018 Gold Coast Schools Connect program.
Holding a flag from the 70 Commonwealth nations and territories, students assembled on the Sports Super Centre running track symbolized this year’s theme of a Peace-building Commonwealth.
The GC2018 Queen’s Baton Relay officially launched at Buckingham Palace in London on March 13 at 9pm AEST (11am London time (GMT)) before embarking on an extraordinary 230,000km journey through the entire Commonwealth making its way to the Games’ Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018.
The limited edition $5 QBR Silver Proof Coin (RRP $150 AUD) and $25 QBR Gold Proof Coin (RRP $800 AUD) are available for purchase from today through The Royal Australian Mint website at eshop.ramint.gov.au.
Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones MP said:
“I’m delighted to have launched the first two commemorative coins for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games on such a significant day. It’s very fitting to have unveiled this commemorative coin, depicting the Queen’s Baton Relay, on Commonwealth Day. Not only that, but we actually saw the Queen’s Baton Relay set off from Buckingham Palace in London. As Minister for Education as well as the Commonwealth Games, I’m also pleased to see so many students from the GC2018 Schools Connect Program embracing the spirit of the games by getting involved in Commonwealth Day activities.”
Gold Coast Acting Mayor Cr Donna Gates commented:
“It was a historic day for the Gold Coast community, with our city featured on a Royal Australian Mint coin for the first time and with the Queen’s Baton commencing its journey to our city. Commonwealth Day is yet another opportunity for Gold Coasters to reflect on the importance of the Commonwealth and our city’s relevance amongst the 70 nations and territories.”
Royal Australian Mint CEO Ross MacDiarmid said:
“The Royal Australian Mint has a long-standing tradition for celebrating national events and the Queen’s Baton Relay was the perfect way to kick off the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 Coin Program. The coin design features a baton relay runner surrounded by 70 flags symbolizing the Commonwealth nations against a backdrop of the iconic Gold Coast skyline.”
GOLDOC Deputy CEO Brian Nourse commented:
“Commonwealth Day delivers a reminder of the relevance of our Games and the power and spirit of sport that will unite 70 nations and territories in just over a years’ time. The GC2018 Schools Connect Program is just one of many initiatives GOLDOC has in place to promote the Games, connect the Commonwealth and develop a lasting legacy for our future generations.”
Background
Commonwealth Day takes place annually on the second Monday in March. Each year, a theme for Commonwealth Day is identified by Her Majesty The Queen and assists in guiding activities by Commonwealth organizations throughout the year.
This year’s theme, A Peace-building Commonwealth, seeks to reaffirm the Commonwealth Charter principle that peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law are essential to the progress and prosperity of all.
Each year, the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, marks the celebration with an interdenominational service held in Westminster Abbey. The Queen also delivers an address that is broadcast throughout the world.
In the year before the quadrennial Games, the Queen starts the Queen's Baton Relay on Commonwealth Day at Buckingham Palace, handing the baton to the first baton-bearer to start a journey that will end at the Opening Ceremony of the upcoming Games.
What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of over 50 independent sovereign states, which provide support to each other, and work together toward international goals. It is described as a ‘family’ of nations, originally linked together in the British Empire, and now building on their common heritage in language, culture and education. This enables them to work together in an atmosphere of greater trust and understanding than generally prevails among nations.
Bringing together some two billion people of many faiths, races, languages, traditions and levels of economic development, the Commonwealth represents almost one-third of the world's population, half of whom are 25 years of age or less and a quarter are under five years old.
Who is in the Commonwealth?
Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Botswana; Brunei Darussalam; Cameroon; Canada; Cyprus; Dominica; Fiji Islands; Ghana; Grenada; Guyana; India; Jamaica; Kenya; Kiribati; Lesotho; Malawi; Malaysia; Malta; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Nauru; New Zealand; Nigeria; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Rwanda; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Solomon Islands; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Swaziland; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Uganda; United Kingdom; United Republic of Tanzania; Vanuatu; Zambia.
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