Coca-Cola Named As Official Soft Drinks Partner To Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

 

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE

The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) GB, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola globally, will be the Official Soft Drinks Partners to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and an Official Partner of Team Scotland.

The partnership between Commonwealth Games, Team Scotland, Coca-Cola and CCEP was announced at CCEP’s East Kilbride manufacturing site. Phil Batty OBE, CEO at Glasgow 2026 and Team Scotland’s Chief Executive, Jon Doig OBE, were joined by Scottish athlete Eilidh Gorrell, who represented Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022, for a tour of local operations with CCEP’s Site Director for East Kilbride, Seamus Kerrigan, as the Games return to Scotland for the first time since 2014.

Glasgow 2026 will take place from the 23 July to 2 August across four iconic venues in Glasgow, with 3,000 athletes from across 74 nations and territories competing in ten sports and six Para sports. CCEP is a returning Games sponsor and was also the Official Soft Drink Provider for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

At the Glasgow 2026 Games, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Powerade and Smartwater will be the Official Soft Drink, Sports Drink and Water providers, respectively.

To support Glasgow 2026’s commitment to a greener Games, CCEP is partnering with environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, on a project to clean up the riverbanks closest to the Commonwealth Games sports venues near to the River Clyde. CCEP will provide funding and volunteer support to the project.

The waste collected will support the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, which has been running as part of the King’s Baton Relay in all 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, with a mission to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways before the Games commence.

CCEP will also work closely with the venue waste management teams to support recycling efforts throughout the Games. All CCEP bottles sold at venue outlets will be recyclable, with the 500ml range made from 100% recycled plastic.

Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive at Glasgow 2026, added: “We’re proud to welcome back one of the world’s most iconic brands to the Commonwealth Games sponsor family. Coca-Cola joins us with a wealth of experience in elevating spectator experience at major events, while also encouraging behaviour change when it comes to sustainability, which supports our ambition to deliver a greener Games.

“The incredible team at East Kilbride is manufacturing a world-class product locally in Scotland and we’re looking forward to working with the team over the coming months.”

Stephen Moorhouse, General Manager at CCEP GB, said: “Supporting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow feels particularly special for us, because we have strong roots through our local operations in East Kilbride. Working with our partners on the ground, we’re focused on creating a positive impact for communities across Glasgow, and an enjoyable experience for the thousands of people set to attend the Games.”

Seamus Kerrigan, Site Director at CCEP’s East Kilbride facility, said: “East Kilbride is a big part of our story in Scotland, we’ve been manufacturing locally for over 60 years, so it feels like the right place to share this news as the Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow in 2026. Glasgow 2026 is an exciting moment for the country and we’re proud to support the Games in a way that reflects our focus on sustainability and the communities around us.”

Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive at Team Scotland, added: “Coca-Cola’s commitment to supporting communities, promoting sustainability and celebrating local Scottish manufacturing reflects the values we champion for Team Scotland athletes. We’re thrilled to welcome a world-leading brand who are so embedded within the local community as a partner for Glasgow 2026.”