Commonwealth baton relay a 'massive celebration'

A Commonwealth Games baton unique to the Isle of Man has made this year's King's relay "really special" and a "massive celebration", the games' chef de mission has said.

Unlike previous years, where a single baton travelled through all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, each team competing at Glasgow 2026 has been given its own to decorate.

With a theme of sustainability, the Manx baton was designed by local artist and internationally decorated archer Lesley Sleight after she won a public competition.

Chef de mission Erica Bellhouse said: "To have our own baton, which will come with us to the games, is actually really special."

She said the island's baton will travel with the team to Glasgow in July, and the relay had helped build excitement ahead of the event.

Each baton contained a single word that forms a message to be read by the King during the opening ceremony when all 74 are brought together, she said.

The Isle of Man's word is "build".

The relay began at the Curraghs Wildlife Park on Saturday and visited sporting venues, heritage sites and community events across the island before ending at Rushen Abbey on Thursday.

Along the way, the baton travelled by RNLI lifeboat from Ramsey to Peel, featured in a Beach Buddies clean-up event and was carried by schoolchildren, athletes and community groups.

Bellhouse said the journey had become "a massive celebration of everything that is fantastic about the Isle of Man".

The relay's final event at Rushen Abbey involved five primary schools from the south of the island.

"We've managed to include so many people in this journey," Bellhouse said.

With final team selections made and preparations complete, Bellhouse said the relay had helped create momentum ahead of the games next month.

"We've only got four or five weeks to go now, so it really is exciting," she said.

For athletes representing the island, Bellhouse said the Commonwealth Games remained the pinnacle of international competition.

"Wearing the Isle of Man vest, flying the Isle of Man flag, that is incredible," she said.

"When I walked into the opening ceremony at Birmingham, I can't even put into words what that felt like.

"To do that again in Glasgow is going to be equally fantastic, if not better I'm sure".

The baton's design features landmarks, wildlife, and heritage sites and symbols associated with the island, including Peel Castle, Tynwald Hill, Snaefell, the Laxey Wheel and the TT races.

Bellhouse said she was "blown away" when she first saw the finished design, adding: "It really does show Isle of Man life."

"It's really unique and Lesley has just done an absolutely fantastic job of it."

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.