The world’s most recognised soft drinks brand is heading back to the Games, and this time, it’s bringing sustainability along for the ride.
When Glasgow opens the doors to the Games on July 23, spectators reaching for a cold drink will find a familiar name staring back at them. The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) GB, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola globally, have been confirmed as the Official Soft Drinks Partners to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, and Official Partners of Team Scotland.
The partnership was announced at CCEP’s East Kilbride facility, where Glasgow 2026 CEO Phil Batty OBE, Team Scotland Chief Executive Jon Doig OBE, and Scottish gymnast Eilidh Gorrell, who competed for Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022, toured local operations as the Games return to Scotland for the first time since 2014.
At Glasgow 2026, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Powerade and Smartwater will serve as the official Soft Drink, Sports Drink and Water providers respectively. Coca-Cola is no stranger to this role, as CCEP is a returning Games sponsor, having filled the same position at Birmingham 2022.
“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 the greenest Games yet.” , Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive, Glasgow 2026
Seamus Kerrigan, Site Director at CCEP’s East Kilbride facility, noted that the plant has been manufacturing locally for over 60 years, making it the right place to share this news as the Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow in 2026.
“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.” , Stephen Moorhouse, General Manager, CCEP GB
Beyond pouring rights, the deal carries a meaningful environmental dimension. CCEP is partnering with Keep Scotland Beautiful on a project to clean up the riverbanks closest to the Commonwealth Games sports venues near the River Clyde. The waste collected will support a campaign running as part of the King’s Baton Relay across all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, with a mission to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways before the Games begin. All CCEP bottles sold at venue outlets will be recyclable, with the 500ml bottle range made from 100% recycled plastic.
Team Scotland’s leadership was equally effusive.
“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.” , Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive, Team Scotland
Commercially, Coca-Cola joins the Games as its sixth second-tier official partner, alongside BYD, Trespass, Trivandi, CMS, and Allwyn, while Longines, the Games’ Principal Partner and Official Timekeeper since 1962, sits above them all at the top of the sponsorship hierarchy.
Glasgow 2026 will take place across four iconic venues in the city from July 23 to August 2, with 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competing in ten sports and six Para sports. The Games were originally awarded to Victoria, Australia, before financial difficulties forced the state to withdraw, with Glasgow stepping in to rescue the event.
The partnership caps what has been a busy run of sponsorship activity for CCEP. As the Official Soft Drinks Partner of the Premier League, Coca-Cola recently launched the new 500ml “Supercan,” a larger single-serve format, with a nationwide Superfan on-pack promotion celebrating football fans across the UK. The Commonwealth Games deal now extends that momentum into the summer, with Scotland as the stage.
The Glasgow announcement also comes as Coca-Cola doubles down on investment across multiple markets. The company recently committed $1 billion to its South Africa expansion, a signal of the brand’s intent to grow aggressively across both established and emerging markets simultaneously.
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