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What's the story?
Shooting and its four disciplines have been removed from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games programme due to proper facilities not being available in the city.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive David Grevemberg wrote in an open letter to the editor of Britain's Shooting Times, "We know they (Birmingham organisers) considered all optional sports carefully, but a final decision was reached.
"The CGF has awarded the Games supporting these plans and consequently shooting will not feature at the 2022 Commonwealth Games."
In case you didn't know...
Shooting has been part of every Commonwealth Games since the 1966 Kingston CWG with the 1970 Edinburgh CWG being the only exception.
Australia has been the best nation in five sports, followed by India and Canada at three sports each and England at only one of the sports.
The heart of the matter
At the 2015 and 2016 CWG General Assembly meetings, shooting was reaffirmed as an optional sport by a majority vote amongst 70 countries.
The Byelaw 14 of the Commonwealth Games Federation Constitution says that every host city must include the following sports- Swimming, Cycling (road), Boxing, Tennis, Weightlifting, Hockey (men and women), Squash, Badminton, Netball (women), Judo, Rugby Wrestling, Triathlon, Lawn Bowls, Athletics, Gymnastics and Table Tennis.
The same byelaw states that the host city can include a maximum of seven of the following optional sports- Archery, Diving, Cycling (track), 4 disciplines of Shooting, Beach Volleyball, Cricket, Basketball (men and women), Cycling (mountain), Triathlon (para) and Table Tennis (para).
The Birmingham City Council is not comfortable with including shooting in the disciplines to be played at the games and according to the CWG Constitution, the organizers decide the optional sports according to their wish.
What next?
According to reports, the Indian Olympic Association is planning to talk to the Birmingham City Council and Commonwealth Games England about reconsidering their decision of excluding shooting from the games.
India has been the second most successful nation in shooting at CWG ahead of England, Canada and New Zealand with 56 golds, 40 silver and 22 bronze medals. But, it is highly unlikely that the decision will be reversed.
Author's take
It's a big let down for the shooting fans and the shooters of the leading nations including the host country as the sport is not being included in the games.
