Commonwealth Games England Chair John Steele wants Team England athletes to inspire pride in English identity this summer.

The Glasgow 2026 Games are just two months away, with the final run-in signalled by the King’s Baton Relay heading to England between 26 and 31 May. Each nation has its own customised baton to represent what the Commonwealth Games means to them and Steele hopes the English leg can express an inclusive and inspiring sense of national pride.

Steele said, “Our baton focusses on representing all of England, being truly representative of the whole of the country and of what it means to be English.” 

“The colourful images on the baton, brilliantly capture all dimensions of our varied national culture. We pride ourselves at Team England in the diversity of our team that will go up to Glasgow and proudly represent our country. The design of our baton speaks to that."

“Sometimes people struggle to articulate what it means to be English, especially in the current climate when our flag and being English is sometimes misrepresented by certain parts of our society. The Kings Baton Relay and indeed the Games themselves clearly send a message of what being English stands for."

“Our values and the values of Commonwealth sport are hugely important; it is all about partnership and Team. Even when it is challenging or times get hard in sport or indeed for our nation, we pull together. It is representing England at its best."

“I’m expecting our staff, athletes, and volunteers to represent what it means to be English. This is an opportunity to say we are proud. We are proud as a nation, of our values and standards.”

England’s leg of the King’s Baton Relay begins on 26 May, when the baton will be presented at St Paul’s Cathedral before being admitted to the City of London at Paternoster Square.

A celebration of 3x3 basketball – one of the 10 sports at Glasgow 2026 – will follow, with the opportunity for members of the public to try their hand at the innovative and fast-paced sport. For Steele, the arrival of the baton in the capital will signal the exciting start of the final build-up for the Games.

“It is an exciting milestone, we are into the last leg once the baton has arrived and we are in sight of the start of the Glasgow Games.” he added.

“It is a sign that we are about to get stuck into an amazingly exciting and challenging Games."

“This is a baton relay with a difference. Historically there has always been one baton that has been taken around the Commonwealth and finishing at the Games venue but each country has had their own baton this time all of which will converge on Glasgow for the opening ceremony."

“Each nation has designed that baton to represent what the Commonwealth Games means to them. All of those batons will come together in Glasgow to create a message from the King at the Opening Ceremony."

“It is different and it brings together the individual quality of each Commonwealth country and then the collective, coming together of all of those traditions and cultures in one competition."

“Its symbolism is hugely important to where the Commonwealth is today.”

Keep your eyes on Team England's socials as the King's Baton Relay comes to life!