The King’s Baton arrives in Dundee ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
- Andrew Batchelor
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
The King’s Baton Relay has arrived in Dundee as excitement continues to build ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the city playing host to a celebration of sport, inclusion and community.
The relay visited the Change Centre in Dundee on Thursday (9 July), where Social Security Scotland and Street Soccer came together to welcome the King’s Baton as it continues its journey across Scotland in the lead-up to the opening ceremony later this month.
Leading the celebrations was four-time Paralympic gold medallist Caroline Baird MBE, who received the baton before kicking off a friendly five-a-side football match between teams representing Social Security Scotland and Street Soccer. The match highlighted the power of sport to bring people together, build confidence and strengthen communities.
The event was attended by supporters including Social Security Scotland Chief Executive David Wallace and Street Soccer Group’s Change Centre Dundee Manager Scott Hollinshead, both of whom praised the positive impact partnerships can have in supporting people across the city.
Speaking at the event, Caroline said she was delighted to welcome the King’s Baton Relay to Dundee and described sport as something that has the power to change lives.
She said: “The Commonwealth Games inspire people to achieve their potential – they certainly inspired me, and it is fantastic to see those same values being reflected through community partnerships and volunteers that support people across Dundee every day.”
Caroline is one of Scotland’s most decorated Paralympians, winning four Paralympic gold medals during an illustrious athletics career while helping redefine opportunities for athletes with cerebral palsy. Today, she works for Social Security Scotland, whose headquarters are based at Agnes Husband House in Dundee.
The King’s Baton Relay is travelling across Scotland ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, visiting more than 50 events and organisations that embody the values of inclusion, resilience and opportunity.
The Commonwealth Games were last hosted in Glasgow back in 2014. The city took on hosting duties for 2026 after Victoria in Australia pulled out due to rising costs.
The games of 2026 will be held on a smaller scale compared to the 2014 spectacle which was branded back then as “the best games ever” by the Commonwealth Games Federation.
For Dundee, the visit of the King’s Baton also shone a spotlight on the work of Street Soccer and the Change Centre, organisations which use sport alongside mentoring, employability support and community programmes to help people facing homelessness, mental health challenges, poverty and social isolation rebuild their lives.
David Wallace, Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland, said the organisation was proud to welcome the relay to Dundee alongside its local partners, while Scott Hollinshead added that the King’s Baton represents values that are central to Street Soccer’s work every day.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will officially start on 23 July, with the King’s Baton Relay continuing its journey around Scotland in the days leading up to the opening ceremony.
