Commonwealth Games relay targets one million pieces of ocean plastic

A campaign linked to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is turning sport's global reach into measurable environmental action. The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign aims to stop one million pieces of plastic entering Commonwealth waters before the Games open in July.

The initiative has already passed the halfway mark, with more than 625,000 pieces collected by communities along the King's Baton Relay route. At West Kirby beach in Merseyside, volunteers including five-time Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds gathered 21kg of rubbish, including 552 plastic items from 56 different brands.

The Commonwealth accounts for around a third of the world's ocean waters, with nearly half of member countries being small island nations particularly vulnerable to marine pollution. Clean-ups are taking place across Commonwealth nations, with athletes, schools and local volunteers all taking part.

"Sport is so powerful, it can facilitate change," said Simmonds, who has become an advocate for ocean conservation since retiring from competitive swimming. "If sport can do that one thing to create change, then it can create that ripple effect."