The King’s Baton Relay (KBR) crossed Europe through cities, islands, and schools besides coastlines before reaching Scotland for the final leg of its journey to the Commonwealth Games ’26 in Glasgow.
In addition to the sporting events, communities in eight nations and territories benefited from the baton’s visit. The initiative was to collect waste from beaches & waterways as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. It was also a Commonwealth Sport initiative tackling marine plastic pollution in the countries the Relay passed through.
Sea Scouts carried the baton along Gibraltar’s Main Street to officially open the European leg of the Relay. The event was with established athletes walking alongside young sportspeople as crowds gathered. The Commonwealth Games hold particular importance for Gilbraltar. The Commonwealth Games are one of the few major multi-sport events at which the territory competes under its flag. Local artist Jupp’s Baton artwork included a tribute to cyclist Sam O’Shea, who represented Gibraltar at Birmingham ’22 and died three years later in ’25.
Malta exploited the visit to link Glasgow ’26 with its preparations for hosting the Commonwealth Youth Games in ’27. Schoolchildren competed at the Marsa Sports Complex. The venue is where young athletes from across the Commonwealth may gather next year. The event was before the baton crossed the Grand Harbour. The Baton was aboard a traditional Maltese boat that sailed on through Valletta, beside Gozo. At St Julian’s, divers and athletes, besides volunteers, pulled more than 1,000 kg of waste from the sea and shoreline, besides surrounding lands.
Maltese Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello said that witnessing the baton travel from school playgrounds to shoreline clean-ups, besides from athletic tracks to the streets of Gozo, has reflected what the Commonwealth stands for at its best: connection, participation, and a shared sense of purpose.
Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol, Nicosia, and Ayia Napa each hosted the baton when in Cyprus. Schoolchildren at Olympic House tried sports from the Glasgow ’26 programme.
