The Queen’s Baton today visited Liverpool as it continued its tour of England ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Baton was given a grand tour of the city, visiting a number of key landmarks throughout Saturday 19 August.

The trip to the city started off with a visit to Liverpool Parkrun at Princes Park, which saw former team England star Beth Tweddle greet the baton, ahead of taking part in the running event. The Baton travelled to Albert Dock, ahead of the Clipper Race, before visiting a community sports day held at Chavasse Park.

Following a quick trip along the River Mersey on the ferry, the Baton was greeted by over 50,000 football fans at Anfield, for a relay competition at half time during the Liverpool V Crystal Palace Premier League fixture.

Liverpool is currently in the process of bidding to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Baton was parachuted into England on Wednesday morning in Oxford, and has visited London and Buckinghamshire before heading to Leamington Spa, Manchester and Birmingham.

Former Commonwealth champion Beth Tweddle said:

“It’s amazing to have the Baton in Liverpool, the city that I competed and trained in for many years. The Baton really makes you realise how close the Commonwealth Games is and for all of those athletes getting ready to compete for Team England, they will be realising now that the Games is only a few months away and that they will be competing at one of the biggest competitions of their lives.”

English sprinter Anyika Onuora said:

“It’s been great having the Baton in Liverpool today ahead of the Gold Coast, where I will hopefully be competing. I am pleased to see the baton here in my home city, where we have such a great sporting history across a variety of different sports.

“My first Commonwealth Games was 2006 in Melbourne, so to go back to Australia, at the Gold Coast, would be fantastic. I think the Gold Coast will be my last Commonwealth Games but I think that I would definitely like to be involved in the Games going forwards after retirement.”

The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Commonwealth Games tradition that celebrates the Commonwealth’s diversity, inspires community pride and excites people about the world-class festival of sports and culture to come.

The Queen’s Baton carries a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that calls for athletes to come together in peaceful and friendly competition.

On Sunday 20 August, the Baton will be visiting Birmingham.