On Thursday 8 January, Papua New Guinea welcomed the arrival of the King’s Baton as part of the global relay leading to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in July and August 2026.
The King’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, Monday 10 March 2025, when His Majesty The King placed His Message to the first Baton.
The King’s Baton Relay is a tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the Games. The journey to Glasgow 2026 will take 500 days and reach every corner of the Commonwealth. The Relay highlights sport’s unique ability to inspire young people, strengthen communities, and bring nations together in the spirit of excellence, inclusion, and respect.
As part of the Baton’s journey, Commonwealth athletes and communities are supporting the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign to prevent 1 million pieces of plastic from entering waterways and oceans.
Plastic suffocates and kills birds, fish, and sea mammals, it infects and destroys coral, mangroves, and other vital habitats. Harmful microplastics from plastic waste enter the human body through contaminated food and water, and there is currently no known way to remove them.
The British High Commission (BHC) was pleased to support the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) and the PNG Commonwealth Games Association in their sporting and environmental clean-up activities in Hanuabada on the first day of the Baton’s journey in PNG Staff from the BHC were excited to join the PNG Olympic Committee, the National Capital District Commission, Motu Koita Assembly, local villagers and almost 200 other volunteers in Hanuabada, cleaning up from Badihagwa Roundabout down to Gabi and Elevala villages.
British High Commissioner H.E. Anne Macro noted that the clean-up aims will help restore iconic coastal areas and strengthen community engagement in environmental stewardship. The initiative reflects our shared commitment to protecting marine environments and promoting sustainable practices in PNG and across the Commonwealth.
“Over 150 million tonnes of plastic already pollute our marine environments. For countries such as PNG that earn considerable income from fishing, where local communities depend on marine resources, and whose beaches and reefs have huge tourism potential, the economic implications are significant”, she said.
Following the clean-up, children from the community gathered for a spirited game of cricket as the Baton made its way through the village. The British High Commissioner,
H.E. Anne Macro, was pleased to be a part of the relay, as she handed over the baton to celebrated athletes from Hanuabada, including Olympic champions Dika Toua and Steven Kari, among others.
The King’s Baton Relay was graced by the active participation of distinguished leaders, including the Governor General H.E. Sir Bob Dadae, Australian High Commissioner Ewen McDonald, NCD Governor Powes Parkop, and Motu Koita Chairman Russell Wavik.
As Papua New Guinea joins millions across the Commonwealth in celebrating this historic relay, we look ahead to the Commonwealth Games, wishing PNG athletes and the PNG Olympic Committee, PNG Commonwealth Games Association success in Glasgow.