Video: Sporting stars get hands-on role in Commonwealth relay

Hundreds of youngsters attended events at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and the John Charles Centre for Sport today, to mark the visit of the baton, which is criss-crossing the country ahead of the Games in Glasgow later this summer.

Batonbearers getting their hands on the sporting symbol in Leeds included boxing champ Nicola Adams, who did her bit during a stop-off at Burmantofts Amateur Boxing Club.

Paralympic powerlifter Ali Jawad and City of Leeds swimmer Sophie Taylor were among the other batonbearers.

Sophie, who is on the Team England squad for Glasgow, said: “It was an honour to represent Leeds as one of the city’s batonbearers and there was a real buzz about the Commonwealth Games, especially among all the young people who came along.”

The events at Headingley and the John Charles site saw children from 80 schools trying out Commonwealth Games sports such as diving, cycling and rugby.

A celebration of the work of local athletes, coaches and volunteers was due to take place at Leeds Civic Hall last night.

The baton contains a message from the Queen to the Commonwealth. It has visited dozens of countries during the run-up to the Games, which get under way on July 23.