Stirling athlete is proud Baton Relay bearer

The relay launch marks 500 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026 and University of Stirling sports scholar Gabriella has her sights set firmly on the occasion.

The 27-year-old athlete was the first woman – and second person ever – to represent Trinidad and Tobago in judo at the Olympics when she competed at the Tokyo Summer Games. At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games she made it all the way to the bronze medal match in the 78+ kg category.

Gabriella combines her academic work at Stirling with judo training and finds time to coach budding athletes at the Judo Club Esprit in Alloa. Gabriella will round off her glittering week competing at the British University Championship in Birmingham where she’ll be vying for success in the 78+ kg division for the three year running.

Gabriella Wood said: “It was an honour to walk the first official leg of the baton relay receiving the baton on behalf of my home nation Trinidad and Tobago to commence 500 days to the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Being part of this historic moment fills me with immense pride – not just as an athlete, but as a representative of my University, my sport, and my country. Carrying the baton symbolises unity, perseverance, and the shared spirit of competition that the Commonwealth Games embody, and I am truly grateful to have been a part of this journey.”

David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “We are filled with an immense sense of pride at seeing one of our athletes and brightest talents play such an important role at the prestigious King’s Baton Relay and really shine on the world stage. 

“Gabriella’s journey to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games started some time ago and I know there has been a great deal of hard work and dedication that has gone into her preparations. Having the privilege of being one of the first batonbearers is another fantastic step on her road to Glasgow 2026.

“Gabriella is an exceptional role model for young athletes, her fellow students, the entire University of Stirling community and her home nation of Trinidad and Tobago, demonstrating just what can be achieved through a University of Stirling sports scholarship.”

The King’s Baton Relay for Glasgow 2026 is a reimagined Relay for a new era. For the first time ever, each of the 74 Commonwealth nations and territories will receive their own Baton, proudly crafted in Glasgow, and simpler than past Museum-style batons to allow Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) to decorate their batons to showcase their own culture, creativity and vision. Batons can be painted, carved, or crafted – by artists, athletes or schools – and as simple or sophisticated as they choose.

The distribution of Batons means there will be no formal Baton handovers between nations and territories. Each nation and territory is encouraged to create opportunities for local people and places to celebrate and get involved, showcasing the uniqueness of different locations and taking a piece of Glasgow to the world.

Thanks to this innovative format, the 18th official Baton Relay will be the longest-ever relay for a Commonwealth Games, with the CGAs in the 74 nations and territories each having up to six days to organise their series of activities – more time to celebrate the Baton than ever before.

For the first time as part of The King’s Baton Relay, Commonwealth Sport is partnering with the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign – bringing much-needed attention to both ongoing ocean conservation efforts and interesting new solutions to plastic waste.

The programme aim is for athletes and communities to come together to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waters and spark lasting change in how we view plastic pollution, with this global relay of plastic clean-ups journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory as part of The King’s Baton Relay.

Commonwealth Sport President Chris Jenkins said: “We are delighted that The King is launching a Baton Relay reimagined for this new era, connecting the Commonwealth and celebrating culture, diversity, and, through our partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society, a shared sustainable future. With special thanks to Longines for their support, the King’s Baton Relay will celebrate our athletes, past, present, and future, and unite our communities, enabling millions of people to join the countdown to the Commonwealth Games.”

Glasgow 2026 Chief Executive Phil Batty OBE said: “The King’s Baton Relay marks an exciting milestone for Glasgow and Scotland, officially starting the countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. With 500 days to go, the relay holds special significance as the Batons are crafted in Glasgow, symbolising a part of Scotland being sent across the Commonwealth. We eagerly anticipate the Batons’ return to Scotland in July 2026 and look forward to planning a vibrant programme of activities with local communities, businesses, athletes, and artists.”

The King’s Baton Relay will culminate at the Opening Ceremony of Glasgow 2026 on 23 July 2026, a traditional and fundamental part of the Commonwealth Games.

As part of the reimagined Relay, all 74 batons will be reunited, and His Majesty's call to the athletes of the Commonwealth to come together in friendly competition will be read aloud by The King to mark the official start of the Commonwealth Games.