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Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has expressed great pride after her son, Jordan Aki-Sawyerr, carried Sierra Leone’s flag during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Mayor described the occasion as an emotional milestone for both her family and the nation.
“Overwhelming proud moment as my son, triple jumper, Jordan Aki-Sawyerr, carries the Sierra Leone flag at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games,” the Mayor noted.
She also wished Sierra Leone’s delegation success as the athletes begin their quest for honours at the multi-sport event.
Jordan Aki-Sawyerr, who competes in the men’s triple jump, is among the 24 athletes selected to represent Sierra Leone at the Games. His appointment as flag bearer recognises his contribution to athletics and places him at the forefront of the country’s delegation during one of the biggest sporting events in the Commonwealth.
Sierra Leone Commonwealth Athletes (c) UK in Sierra Leone
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games have brought together thousands of athletes from across the Commonwealth to compete in several sporting disciplines, providing competitors with an opportunity to showcase their talent on the international stage.
Sierra Leone has a rich but challenging history at the Commonwealth Games. The country first participated in the Games in 1958 in Cardiff, Wales, then under British colonial rule, and has continued to feature in several editions since gaining independence in 1961. Although Sierra Leone has yet to win a Commonwealth Games medal, its athletes have represented the country with distinction in disciplines including athletics, boxing, weightlifting, judo and wrestling. The Games serve as an important platform for Sierra Leonean athletes to gain international exposure and compete against some of the world’s best competitors.
Over the years, Sierra Leone’s participation at the Commonwealth Games has often been marred by financial constraints, inadequate preparation and logistical difficulties. Despite these setbacks, successive generations of athletes have continued to represent the nation with determination, often overcoming major challenges to qualify for important international competitions.
Athletes in Sierra Leone continue to face many obstacles, including inadequate sporting facilities, limited access to modern training equipment, insufficient funding, a shortage of qualified coaches and sports medicine specialists, and limited opportunities to participate in high-level international competitions. The country’s major track is part of the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown, which has been under renovation for over five years. Also, some athletes also juggle training with work or education because of limited financial support, while sporting associations frequently struggle to secure resources for effective preparation.
