Indian Olympic Association drops 2022 Commonwealth Games boycott threat

IOA President Narinder Batra. © Getty Images
IOA President Narinder Batra. © Getty Images

New Delhi, India, December 31, 2019: India will bid to host the 2026 or 2030 Commonwealth Games - and will also take part at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is also in the process of submitting the final bid to host the IOC Session in 2023 in Mumbai to the International Olympic Committee.

The IOA decided at the Annual General Meeting on Monday, December 30, to withdraw its threat to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games and said that a strong Indian contingent would take part in Birmingham.

IOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta said after the meeting that “we will not boycott the Commonwealth Games,” adding that IOA would bid for either the 2026 or 2030 CWG.

India had threatened to pull out of the next edition in the UK since shooting, which has contributed nearly 25 per cent of the medals India have won in the last five editions since the 2002 Manchester Games, was excluded from the Birmingham Games.

But “on the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)”, the IOA will submit a proposal to host a Commonwealth Shooting Championships before the main competition in Birmingham.

After the IOA meeting on Monday, CGF President Louise Martin said in a press release: “We are delighted that India have expressed an ambition to host another Commonwealth Games in the future”.

India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The CGF will hold a meeting next year to announce the host city for the 2026 Games.

Source: Hindustan Times