NEW DELHI: Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra on Thursday said that the IOA’s threat to withdraw from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in protest against the exclusion of shooting still stands… though there are enough indications that the extreme step remains an outside possibility.
Following a meeting with the visiting Commonwealth Games Federation president Louise Martin and CEO David Grevemberg, Batra asserted a decision on the boycott proposal made in July will be taken by the IOA executive committee and the general assembly, which is expected to meet next month.
For the record, it is worth noting that both Gevemberg and Martin have said several times that there is no chance that shooting could be included in the 2022 programme.
“The term boycott I had used was not appropriate. It should have been withdrawal. It was a successful and fruitful meeting (with the CGF delegation) but the proposal of withdrawal from 2022 CWG still stands,” PTI quotes Batra as having said in a press conference, addressed along with Martin, Grevemberg and IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta.
“We made the proposal (of boycott) nearly six months back. Now, we will take into consideration the discussions we had today with the CGF officials. We will go back to our executive committee and then to the general assembly and take a decision,” the IOA chief said.
Giving hints that the IOA may have a rethink on the boycott proposal, Batra said, “In the proposal to have a Commonwealth Shooting Championships in 2022 around the Birmingham Games, we have proposed to include the medal count India gets in shooting (in Commonwealth Championships) in the medal tally of the 2022 CWG.”
Batra’s comments on the CGF’s position sheds some light on which way the wind blows however. “They (the CGF officials) have not given any commitment (emphasis ours) on this proposal,” he noted.
Speaking earlier on the matter, CGF Media and Communications director Tom Degun had told PTI: “Regarding shooting, at this stage following the General Assembly there is no real chance of adding shooting to the 2022 CWG but there will be discussion on shooting.”
Degun had indicated that discussions would be centred on how shooting could be brought to the CWG core sports programme, making the sport a compulsory feature in future Games.
“The meeting could focus on hosting a Commonwealth Shooting Championships around the Birmingham 2022 Games and potentially adding shooting as a core Commonwealth Games sport but at a later date,” Degun told the newswire.
Which is pretty much what Batra said as well, except that he added the proposal from the IOA to include the medal count India gets in shooting at the championships to the medal tally of the 2022 CWG. Looked at from this perch, there seems to be little to no chance of that going through.
Full joint statement from CGF president Louise Martin and IOA president Narinder Batra:
“Discussions between the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport, the government of India, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have been very positive.
“We are confident that our important visits to Delhi and Punjab will significantly strengthen our relationship as we move forwards.
“The CGF and the IOA recognise the significant positive sporting legacies created from the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games in terms of both sport participation and high performance across the country. The CGF commends the leadership of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport Kiren Rijiju for championing the open and inclusive free use of Delhi 2010 venues for sport development and competition.
“The CGF appreciates the concerns expressed by India about the non-inclusion of shooting as a competitive event at Birmingham 2022 and we are committed to working together for finding a solution to this.
“We have also agreed to work closely to help strengthen India’s voice and presence across the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
“Following our discussions, the CGF are increasingly hopeful that the athletes of India will compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We acknowledge and respect that this decision will ultimately be taken by the sports community of India but have been delighted with the opportunity to discuss the refreshed vision of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and India’s important role in achieving it.
“An important part of the CGF visit has been to witness and celebrate the continuing positive legacies of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. The CGF are also convening with athletes and officials across Indian sport to discuss the future of Commonwealth Sport.”
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