The CGF Executive Board approved Chandigarh as the host to Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships. This will stop the ruckus related to Shooting at the CWG 2022 at Birmingham which has had been in the news. The event will be held in Chandigarh, a union territory and capital of Punjab & Haryana in January 2022.
Other CWG 2022 Events will stay unaffected:
While the change of host country for the two sports, other competition will stay unaffected and Birmingham will stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games during 27 July – 7 August 2022. Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022, however, will be two separately organised and funded Commonwealth Sport events.
It will not be like any regular Commonwealth Games as results from Chandigarh would be added a week post the Closing Ceremony of the mega event. CGF will issue a medal table, then, adding results from the Chandigarh 2022 Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships. This will be the final legitimate ranking of competing nations and territories from the respective competitions.
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Proposed By Commonwealth Games India (IOA)
The Indian Olympic Association, which is also the Commonwealth Games India (CGI), proposed this plan. The plan was supported by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Government of India, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and World Archery. It was then considered and discussed with CWG 2022 Partners prior to the CGF Executive Board Meeting.
The Executive Board, in their meeting in London, approved the proposal. The Board also highlighted the opportunity for this innovative model to promote and encourage the development and hosting of sport throughout the Commonwealth.
In a statement post the approval, the CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “I am delighted that we have approved India’s ambitious proposal to host a Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships in Chandigarh during 2022.”
Further adding, he said, “Commonwealth archery and shooting athletes now have an unprecedented opportunity to compete in an elite event that will showcase the very best of Commonwealth Sport and add value to the Commonwealth Sports Movement.”
Thanking the Indian Delegation & Supporters of this proposal, he added, “The CGF would like to thank the CGI, the NRAI, the Government of India and the entire sporting community of India on the significant efforts they have taken to submit an innovative proposal with the ambition of strengthening Commonwealth Sport. I would like to give particular thanks to CGI President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport Kiren Rijiju and NRAI President Raninder Singh for their leadership across this proposal.”
Speaking about the decision, the CGI President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra said: “We are very pleased that our proposal was considered by the Federation and look forward to continuing to engage with all stakeholders to ensure that the Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships is a resounding success for the Commonwealth Sports Movement.”
Detailing the proposal they made, he added, “Our proposal provides more opportunities for Commonwealth athletes to compete on the world stage, and we look forward to welcoming the Commonwealth’s best shooters and archers to Chandigarh in 2022.”
Speaking about the relief it will give to the Indian Sports fraternity, Mr. Batra concluded, “Team India looks forward to competing at Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022, and discussing further how we promote closer ties with India and its athletes and the wider Commonwealth sport community.”
Progress Report of CWG 2022 & Trinbago 2021 Youth Games
The Executive Board also saw key updates on the preparation progress at Trinbago 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games and CWG 2022. Further, they talked about the 2026 Commonwealth Games Bid Process. The CWG 2026 will see a Host City announced later this year. The CGF Executive Board will meet again in June 2020 in Birmingham to see the progress of the Commonwealth Games.
(Inputs from CGF Press Release)