Team Northern Ireland reveal duo leading country out for 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony
Team Northern Ireland have confirmed Gary Kelly and Bethany Firth will lead the country out for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow on Thursday night – an event which will be attended by The King and Queen.
Bowls star Kelly, who picked up a bronze medal in 2010 and secured silver in Birmingham four years ago, started his 2026 bid with a 2-0 victory over Niue’s Frederrick Tatafu as Northern Ireland enjoyed a dream start to the competition.
Ballymoney native Kelly picked up a 2023 World Bowls Championship pairs gold medal in Australia alongside silver in team and singles events, and will now have the honour of being flag bearer.
Kelly will be joined by baton bearer Firth, who won Commonwealth Games gold in 2022 in the 200m freestyle S14.
Swimmer Firth is a six-time Paralympic Games gold medallist, topping the podium in London, Rio and Tokyo, and has also collected six golds at the World Championships.
After giving birth to daughter Charlotte, Firth admits motherhood has provided her with extra motivation for Glasgow success.
“I’m a lot older now and I’ve had a baby, but I’m proving that you can come back and still compete at the top,” said Firth on the Commonwealth Games’ website. “Not a lot of women have done it and I feel like we need to change that a wee bit, which we can, we just need the right support.
“I just didn't see people coming back (after pregnancy and childbirth) and I felt like men didn't have to choose, but women did and I just didn't like that.
"Everyone assumed, when I announced I was pregnant, that was it, but I never announced that I was retiring and I wanted to show them, no, you can do both.
“I just really want to show her (daughter Charlotte), that women can do it, that we don’t have to choose and I want to be a really strong role model."
The opening ceremony starts at 8pm with more than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations preparing to officially launch the competition.
The King and Queen will be at the Hydro in Glasgow for the curtain-raising spectacle while Tom Walker, KT Tunstall, Callum Beattie, Nina Nesbitt, Valtos, Nathan Evans and Saint PHNX will be performing.