The Baton was officially unveiled at the British High Commission Residence in Belmopan, where the Governor General of Belize, government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, past Commonwealth athletes and those preparing for Glasgow 2026 gathered to mark its arrival.
Local artist Keion Griffith, who painted the Baton, was present at the ceremony to share the inspiration behind his work, with Garifuna music and dance setting the tone for the days ahead.
Griffith's design speaks directly to Belizean identity. The Great Blue Hole and an ancient Mayan temple reflect the country's natural wonder and cultural heritage, while the national coat of arms acknowledges Belize's place within the Commonwealth. Three athletes, a swimmer, a runner and a ball player, complete the design, connecting past and present through sport.
From Belmopan, the Baton moved into the heart of Belize City, where it was welcomed at Belize Elementary School by national champion student athletes in basketball and volleyball. The relay continued through the city with young athletes and environmental groups before arriving at St Catherine's Academy, where students from the Wavemaker Club carried the Baton along the coastline as part of the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.
Their efforts removed 917 pieces of waste, totalling 52.4 pounds, from the seaside, a powerful demonstration of the campaign's message that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility. The Baton then continued to Edward P. Yorke High School, where athletes from athletics and cycling joined the day's activities.
Travelling north into Orange Walk, the relay reached Yo Creek, where it was received at Yo Creek Sacred Heart R.C. School. Students took part in a football match before the Baton was carried to Jardin Pachamama, home of the traditional Pok Ta Pok Mayan ball game.
One of the oldest sports in the world, with roots stretching back to 1400 BCE, Pok Ta Pok carries centuries of history in every movement. Belize are the reigning world champions, having claimed the title in 2025, and that pride was visible throughout.
The Baton was passed from students of Yo Creek Sacred Heart and Compassion Primary School to the captain of the K'iinich Ahau Pok Ta Pok team, marking the start of a ceremonial game played over two seven-minute halves. Afterwards, players engaged with students, explaining the game and inviting them onto the court, offering many their first experience of a sport rooted in their own community.
Across five days and three locations, the King's Baton Relay moved through Belize as it moves through every nation it visits, connecting ceremony, culture and community, and carrying with it the collective spirit of the Commonwealth on the road to Glasgow 2026.
