Commonwealth Games Federation Worried About India’s Threat Over Participation

India threaten to boycott the 2022 CWG:- The Commonwealth Games Federation on Sunday said that they want India to participate in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. This came in reply to India’s threaten to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games mega event. 

Earlier Indian Olympic Association wrote a letter to the government proposing a boycott from the event following the removal of Shooting from the games. In the development of the events, CGF has said that it intends to meet the Indian Olympic Association officials to draw a constructive solution over this issue. 

“We absolutely want India to participate wholeheartedly in Birmingham 2022 and look forward to meeting our colleagues in India over the coming months to discuss their concerns and future ambitions” CGF Media & Communication Manager Tom Degun told PTI.

In a striking move, IOA President Narinder Batra wrote to Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, seeking Government’s support in motion to boycott the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and  after the CGF decided on dropping the sport of Shooting from the Games. 

The IOA had previously pulled out of the CGF General Assembly to be held in September to challenge the drop of Shooting. IOA also withdrew the nomination of its General Secretary Rajeev Mehta for the election of the regional vice-president as well as that of Namdev Shiragaonkar for sports committee member

“We are naturally disappointed that our colleagues in India have chosen not to join the other Commonwealth nations and territories in Rwanda for the 2019 CGF General Assembly; particularly as this is where the future strategic direction of the Commonwealth Sports Movement is debated and approved by our 71 members,” the CGF official said.

While proposing a boycott of the 2022 CWG, Batra had lashed out at the CGF leadership for having an “India bashing mindset” and for “trying to change rules” whenever the country does well in the Commonwealth Games.

“We have been noticing over a period of time that wherever India seems to be getting a grip of the game and performing well, then somehow we find that either the goal posts are shifted or rules are changed. We feel it is time for us in IOA/India to start asking tough questions and start taking tough positions,” the IOA chief had said.