SA promotes culture and heritage during King’s Baton Relay

Four of the five artists present at the King’s Baton reveal. From left to right: Siphiwe Ngwenya, Naledi Shange, Sanele Mkhize and Alby Mavimbela) with Khotso Mokoena, Commonwealth Games medallist (2006 and 2014) and Chairperson of the Athletes’ Commission.

South Africans got a taste of the magic of the Commonwealth Games when the country had its turn to showcase its design of the King’s Baton that will be carried at the opening ceremony of next year’s Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

On 23 July 2026, the Games Opening Ceremony will take place in Glasgow. The King’s Baton Relay will be a major highlight of the Games Opening Ceremony and the finale to the 500-day journey to all 74 Commonwealth Nations and Territories. The launch of the inaugural Commonwealth Sport King’s Baton Relay took place on Commonwealth Day, Monday 10 March 2025, at Buckingham Palace.

For the first time, each of the Commonwealth Nations and Territories have received their own Baton, which consists of three interlocking pieces of sustainably-sourced ash crafted in Glasgow. It is simpler than past Baton Relays, to allow countries to decorate their batons to showcase their own culture, creativity and vision.

The Caribbean was the first Commonwealth region destination for The King’s Baton Relay, with Trinidad and Tobago starting its Baton celebrations on Tuesday 11 March. The Relay moved to Africa from 15 June, where each of the Commonwealth countries would have an opportunity to the celebrate the Baton, remaining in Africa until 24 October. Asia (25 October to 21 December), Oceania (2 January to 26 March 2026), Americas (27 March to 6 May 2026), and Europe (8 May to 23 July 2026), ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026.

South Africa is the 27th nation to celebrate the King’s Baton Relay activities, within the window of 13 September to 18 September. The activities were formally launched at Olympic House, in Johannesburg, the headquarters of the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC). SASCOC’s responsibilities include being the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) in the country, including the delivery of Team South Africa to the Commonwealth Games.

Five local designers were commissioned to work on the South African Baton: Alby Mavimbela, from Soweto, an illustrator, graphic designer, photographer, visual artist and author self-published books under the brand “Hello, Welcome to Africa”; Sanele Mkhize, from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), a designer by trade, who was nominated by the KZN Provincial Sports Confederation; Nare Mohlake, from Limpopo, a graphic illustrator who has worked with the Limpopo Sports Confederation – with her designs featuring in the National School Sports Championships attire; Siphiwe Ngwenya, artist from Alexandra Township, founder of the Maboneng Township Arts Experience and who has worked with international bodies to support the arts; and Naledi Shange, originally from KZN, a multidisciplinary artist and has worked with Department of Sport, Arts and Culture at Ekhaya during the Olympic Games in Paris.

The artists collaborated in delivering the final design of the King’s Baton from South Africa, with every side of its design telling a chapter of South Africa’s journey, coming together in one unified message: “Through unity in diversity, we rise.” Each of the three sides is inspired by a specific theme: Commonwealth Games Association of South Africa – with six colours of the South African flag, and the national flower, the King Protea; The Spirit of Play, with the burst of the energy of sport as a catalyst for unity, healing and hope, inspired by the famous words of former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela – “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”, and the Commonwealth Sport values celebrate respect, inclusion and unity, inspiring all participants to embrace diversity, uphold fair play and use the power of sport to bring people together; with the third side representing The Soul of the Nation, represented by the hands stretching across the baton, clasping one another in an eternal bond, carrying the spirit of Ubuntu – the Baton becomes a bridge between cultures, between histories and between generations, representing unity and diversity. The handles are painted in a splash of South African colours, representing vibrancy, creativity and freedom. This artistic touch mirrors the dynamic spirit of the youth, the energy of the streets and the kaleidoscope of cultures that together define the Rainbow Nation.

Holistically, when the baton begins its journey from South Africa, it will not only carry the message of the Commonwealth but also the story of a country that continues to rise, inspire, and unite. Each element – heritage, unity, sport, and colour – intertwines into one narrative: South Africa runs with history on its back, hope in its heart, and a baton in its hand. The journey to Glasgow 2026 is not just a relay - it is a celebration of resilience, humanity, and the boundless power of sport to bring us together.

Beyond the reveal of the Baton on the 13th of September and following the tradition of The King’s Baton Relay to celebrate, connect and excite communities, the next stop on the famous journey is Limpopo, where a sports day will be held at Capricorn High School in Polokwane on the 16th of September.

This will be followed by a stop in KwaZulu-Natal on the 17th of September, where rivers will be the focus of a plastic clean-up operation, highlighting The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. As part of the programme of the King’s Baton Relay, Commonwealth Games Federation (Commonwealth Sport) will partner with the Royal Commonwealth Society, supporting the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign. This campaign seeks to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waters and spark lasting change in how we all view plastic pollution ahead of Glasgow 2026. Each and every nation and territory will create a plastic clean up event in each during the King’s Baton Relay.

This clean up campaign in KZN will take in a Mayoral River Clean-Up of the Nkanyezini and Imboyi areas (Mkhambathini Municipality), with the relay conducted by canoeists along the river, where dignitaries will pass along the baton, culminating in a handover to the MEC.

South Africa has a rich history of involvement with the Commonwealth Games. Formerly known as the British Empire Games, South Africa was at the first staging in Hamilton, New Zealand, in 1930. There, 59 countries were represented.

After attending six such Games, South Africa was isolated from international competition and Victoria 1994 marked its return after a 36-year absence. Since then, South Africa has attended all eight Commonwealth Games, with swimmer Chad le Clos’s 18 medals being the joint most achieved of any male athlete. South Africa returned from the last Commonwealth Games, at Birmingham 2022, with 27 medals. Next year’s Games will feature a 10-sport programme, including six fully integrated Para Sports. The sports are: 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball, Artistic Gymnastics, Athletics and Para Athletics, Bowls and Para Bowls, Boxing, Cycling and Para Cycling, Judo, Netball, Swimming and Para Swimming and Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting.

The Commonwealth Games remain more than a sporting event defined by times and numbers on the scoreboard. There is an ongoing commitment to making a difference, driven by values that helps focus on transforming peoples’ lives and a strong emphasis is placed on human rights, democracy and social development. India, with over 1.2-billion people, is the largest of the 74 Commonwealth nations, with Niue (population: 1 681) the smallest.