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King launches Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Baton Relay

PA Media Sir Chris Hoy holds the baton as King Charles stands next to him withing the grounds of Buckingham Palace. The King is wearing a blue coat with a light shirt and grey tie. Sir Chris is wearing a blue jacket and kilt, a whit shirt and a blue tiePA Media
The King handed the baton to Sir Chris Hoy who is the first bearer on the relay

King Charles has launched the King's Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

It is the 18th official Commonwealth Games relay and marks 500 days until the event begins on 23 July next year.

The King handed the baton to champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy - the first bearer on its journey around the world.

The relay, which begins in London as a part of Commonwealth Day celebrations, is the King's first as head of the Commonwealth.

PA Media The wooden baton sitting on a plinth. It has the words Commonwealth Sport and Glasgow 2026 carved into itPA Media
The baton is made from ash wood and has the Commonwealth Sport logo and Glasgow 2026 carved into it

Glasgow 2026 chief executive officer Phil Batty told BBC Scotland News the baton relay launch was a "momentous milestone".

He said: "To have the support of the King and to have the baton relay launched really brings the project to life.

"To be able to include all 74 nations over the next 500 days as we journey towards the opening ceremony is exactly what the Commonwealth Games is about, uniting communities across the world."

PA Sir Chris Hoy with the next three baton bearers who are wearing commonwealth games tracksuitsPA
Sir Chris with the three baton bearers who will follow him, from left to right, Gabriella Wood, Sammi Kinghorn and Keiran Healy

Following Sir Chris Hoy, the next three baton bearers will be wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn, ocean plastics campaigner Keiran Healy and Trinidad & Tobago judo athlete Gabriella Wood - who studies at the University of Stirling.

Trinidad & Tobago will be the first destination for the relay.

The King has placed a sealed message into the baton. It will remain inside until the opening ceremony when it will be read out to mark the start of games.

The baton was created by Scottish designer Tim Norman at his workshop in Glasgow - and uses a piece of ash cut from a tree in a city park.

Designer Tim Norman holding the wooden baton. He is standing inside his workshop and is wearing a blue cap, black jacket and yellow T-shirt
Tim Norman said he was honoured to be asked to design the baton

He said he felt "really privileged and honoured" to be asked to produce a piece of work that will be seen around the world.

"I've not been involved in Royal commissions before or something of this stature," he said.

"So it's obviously a bit more special than your normal commission.

"Also, with the Games happening in Glasgow and me being Glaswegian, it really hits home and makes it even more special."

Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney is in London to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service of celebration at Westminster Abbey as well as the Baton Relay launch.

PA Media John swinney with a group of officials and athletes holding up a large glasgow commonwealth games sign.PA Media
First minister John Swinney, centre, will attend the Commonwealth celebration at Westminster Abbey as well as the Baton Relay launch

Swinney said the Games were a "huge opportunity for Scotland on the world stage".

He added: "Glasgow already has a tremendous record for hosting, receiving international recognition for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

"Glasgow 2026 will bring huge economic benefits to the city and support upgrades to sporting facilities - benefitting individuals, communities and clubs."

The event will take place in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August next year.

It will feature a 10-sport programme with athletes from 74 nations and territories.

Why is Glasgow hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games?

Glasgow was announced as the host of the 2026 Games after the Australian state of Victoria - which had been due to host - withdrew over rising costs.

The deal was secured after the Scottish government agreed to back it and the Victoria state administration promised a £2.3m investment.

Scottish government minister Neil Gray said at the time the fact that the city was asked to step in and host the games was a "testament to Glasgow and Scotland's fantastic reputation for hosting international events".

Organisers have stated the Games will come at no cost to the Scottish public purse, with funding coming from compensation paid to the Commonwealth Games Federation after the Australians pulled out.

The UK government will provide financial support in the event of any increased security threat but has said it will not completely underwrite the Games.

How many sports and how many medals will be up for grabs?

The 10-sport Glasgow Games will be a scaled-back version of the last time the city played host in 2014.

The overall number of sports has halved from 20 in Birmingham in 2022 to combat rising hosting costs and time demands.

However, more than 200 gold medals will still be contested at venues within an eight-mile corridor of the city.

Swimming, track cycling and Para sports will each boast more medallists than in any of the previous 22 iterations of the Games.

And athletics will have two new events - the mixed 4x400m relay and the Commonwealth Mile, which replaces the 1500m.

Para sports will be fully integrated across six of the 10 disciplines, with a Games record of 47 medal events in total.

A total of 26 cycling golds will be fought for at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, with eight of those in Para-track cycling. That is double the amount on offer three years ago.

And 56 will be on offer at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with the men's 800m and women's 1500m freestyle races included for the first time.