Commonwealth Sport Celebrates World Cleanup Day
On World Cleanup Day, 20 September, Commonwealth Sport is celebrating the impact of the King’s Baton Relay (KBR), which has already helped remove more than 300,000 pieces of plastic from Commonwealth oceans and waterways.
In partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, clean- up activities have taken place across the Caribbean and Africa, the first two regions on the KBR’s journey to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. With 28 of 74 nations and territories having completed their leg of the Relay, we've already reached 30% of our target to remove one million pieces of plastic from Commonwealth waterways before the Games.
From divers in Uganda retrieving plastic from lake floors, to Nigeria running the first clean-up by canoe, and Cameroon’s volunteers working through heavy rain, Commonwealth communities have found creative ways to keep the waterways clean. Thousands of supporters, from schoolchildren and athletes to government officials, have joined the movement through clean- up events, educational workshops and awareness campaigns. While the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign centres on rivers and oceans, in Africa clean- ups have also extended to built-up areas and cities, showing how communities are committed to making a difference everywhere.
Katie Sadleir CNZM, Commonwealth Sport CEO, said:
"On World Clean-up Day, we celebrate the inspiring creativity and commitment that each of our Nations and Territories has brought to the King’s Baton Relay so far. Seeing Athletes and communities embrace the challenge in their own way shows how inclusive and grassroots approaches can come together to create a lasting impact. As the baton relay continues its journey across the Commonwealth, we look forward to continuing this citizen-led movement to remove one million pieces of plastic from our oceans and waterways in the run up to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games."
Elizabeth van der Valk, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Commonwealth Society, added:
"As we build momentum towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games next July, the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Campaign as part of the King’s Baton Relay showcases the power of communities coming together to tackle plastic pollution. On International Coastal Clean-up Day, we are reminded that by supporting and amplifying existing initiatives, we can inspire collective action across the Commonwealth. We are especially delighted to be partnering this week with Save A Fishie in South Africa for Coastal Clean-up Day, a community-led initiative that combines education and action to address plastic waste. Together, we encourage individuals, groups, and organisations everywhere to join this movement and play their part in safeguarding our shared oceans and waterways."
The inaugural King’s Baton Relay for Glasgow 2026 is unique in its design. For the first time, each of the 74 nations and territories will design their own Baton, showcasing culture, landscapes, sporting heroes and environmental priorities.
Africa is the second Commonwealth region to take part, beginning the Baton celebrations in Sierra Leone on 15 June. The Africa leg of the Relay will finish in Seychelles on 24 October. The Relay will then move to Asia (25 October to 21 December), Oceania (3 January to 27 March 2026), the Americas (28 March to 7 May 2026), and Europe (8 May to 23 July 2026).
The King’s Baton Relay will conclude at the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on 23 July 2026. As part of the reimagined Relay, all 74 Batons will be reunited, each engraved with a word from His Majesty’s call to the athletes of the Commonwealth, to be read aloud by The King or his representative at the official start of the Games.
