Tim Hodge to lead Australians at Comm Games Opening Ceremony

Returning to the city where it all began and now as a defending champion and world record holder, Tim Hodge OAM (pictured right) will lead the Australian Team into the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as the nation’s Baton Bearer alongside athletics’ Nina Kennedy OAM (pictured left) as Australia’s Flag Bearer.

The honour was announced today by Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM OLY at the Australian Team Reception, bringing together athletes, officials and staff before the Opening Ceremony opens the Games on July 23.

Hodge – who made his Dolphins debut when he was 14 in Glasgow for the 2015 Para Swimming World Championships – says it’s a privilege that goes without saying.

“I’ve been lucky enough to compete at two Commonwealth Games already, and I’ve watched the Team come into the stadium both times and felt so much pride watching the green and gold walking in,” Hodge said.

“To now have that role myself, to have it happen in Glasgow of all places, the same city where I made my international debut, means the Games already feel special.”

“It’s the first time that I’ll march too, I’m usually competing first day. I can’t wait to feel the excitement.”

Thomas, in her second appointment as Chef de Mission and marking her ninth Games, the most of any Australian, says the pair each possess the qualities the Team looks for when bestowing such honours.

“It was such a pleasure to ask Nina and Tim to take on these roles. They’re both so deserving, and they provide real leadership within their sports and more broadly across the team,” Thomas said.

“Each of them has longevity, character and humility, and the support of the whole Australian sporting community behind them.

“Tim is at his third Commonwealth Games, with two Paralympic gold medals and a world record to his name.

“He made his Australian debut in this very city over a decade ago, and everywhere he goes he brings a calm yet inspiring approach that lifts those around him.

“I know they’ll lead our team out with pride and grace.”

Hodge steps into a new tradition as Baton Bearer.

The Baton Bearer honour was introduced for this Games to mark the King’s Baton’s arrival into the stadium alongside the flag, and he’ll carry it in as swimming makes its sixth appearance on Australia’s Opening Ceremony honour roll.

With Kennedy, the pair will lead a team that’s a genuine mix of youth and experience. 150 of Australia’s 255 athletes will make their Games debut, 138 women and 117 men, drawn from every state and territory.

A team of 58 Dolphins will dive in across six days of racing at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, starting Friday 24 July, the day after the Opening Ceremony on 23 July.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KING’S BATON RELAY

Glasgow 2026 has reimagined the King’s Baton Relay for the first time in its history.

Rather than a single baton passing hand‑to‑hand across the Commonwealth, all 74 nations and territories have received their own, crafted in Glasgow as a simple, sustainable “blank canvas” for each nation to decorate.

Australia’s baton was designed by Kalkadoon artist Chern’ee Sutton, extending her long‑term collaboration with Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) on reconciliation artwork and the CGA unity symbol, and carries First Nations art and storytelling onto the global Commonwealth stage.

It travelled Australia over five days earlier this year under the banner ‘rock to reef’, moving through landscapes and communities from Uluru to Isaac Cooper at the Great Barrier Reef before Ariarne Titmus helped close the Australian leg in her hometown Launceston, Tasmania.

Image credit: CGA