The Tonga Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC), also known as Tonga’s Commonwealth Games Association (CGA), presented the King’s Baton Relay for the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games to British High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Philip Malone yesterday at the TASANOC head office.
The ceremony, attended by Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner and TASANOC’s Secretary-General, marks Tonga’s formal entry into the global countdown.
The Baton, crafted by renowned master carver Sitiveni Fehoko from Scottish ash wood, honours Tonga’s deep ocean heritage and early mastery of Pacific navigation. Under the reimagined Relay format for Glasgow 2026, each of the 74 nations and territories receives a unique Baton, which is redesigned to allow countries to reflect their own culture.
Tonga’s Baton will return to Tongatapu from 1 to 7 February 2026. During that week, it will tour aged-care homes, community centres and the Vaiola Hospital, bringing the spirit of the Games directly to everyday life on the islands.
As part of the global Royal Commonwealth Society-backed Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, Tonga CGA, led by Secretary-General Netina Latu Vea, will host community beach clean-ups and free “Come and Try” sports sessions in December and January. Mrs Latu Vea said the Baton “tells our story, our identity, our ocean, and our people.”
The Relay’s worldwide journey began on 10 March 2025 from Buckingham Palace, and will span a record-breaking 500 days. As Tonga prepares its week of celebrations and community events, the Baton will symbolise unity, cultural pride and environmental responsibility spotlighting Tonga on the path to Glasgow 2026.
