On Monday 26 May 2014, the baton will arrive at Meirionnydd 2014 Urdd National Eisteddfod in Bala for a jam-packed day at the festival and a full programme of events throughout the day.
The baton, along with Clyde, Mistar Urdd and the 19 baton bearers will be part of the Official Opening Ceremony of the Eisteddfod which will take place in the 1800 seated main pavilion on the Eisteddfod site. This prestigious opening ceremony, broadcast live on S4C at 10.30am, will introduce the whole team of baton bearers to the pavilion audience and to those viewers watching at home.
It is an opportunity for Urdd children and young people, together with their supporters and visitors to the Maes, to show their support to the Welsh team who will be competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow during the summer.
Following the ceremony the baton will then be taken on a relay around the Eisteddfod Maes with each of the 19 baton bearers taking their turn to have their moment of glory. 400 metre runner Iwan Thomas will begin the relay followed by the 18 individuals that have been nominated to carry the Commonwealth baton due to their efforts in volunteering with the Urdd.
The process for choosing the bearers included individuals nominating themselves or being nominated by others. The Urdd then selected the lucky 18.
As well as the relay, Clyde himself and the Urdd’s own mascot, Mistar Urdd will also be part of the fun with their own display of sporting talent at the Urdd’s dedicated sports arena on the Maes. The baton bearers will also have an opportunity to visit the tens of stalls at the Eisteddfod and also enjoy a special cooking session with chef Dudley Newbery to try some Welsh and Scottish cuisine.
The thousands attending the Maes will also have their own opportunity to see the baton and meet the bearers as it makes its way around the Maes during the day with Clyde and Mistar Urdd also on hand to help out.
For more information on joining the fun at the Eisteddfod visit www.urdd.org/eisteddfod. Tickets to the Maes and evening events can be found at www.urdd.org/en/eisteddfod/tickets or call the ticket hotline, 0845 257 1639.
