Commonwealth Games Archives

Ahmedabad set to host 2030 Commonwealth Games

The Indian city of Ahmedabad is in a prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport announced on Wednesday.

The choice of Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, will be put forward to the full Commonwealth Sport membership, with a final decision to be taken at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.

“The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport has today confirmed that it will recommend Amdavad, India, as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games,” the Executive Board said in a statement.

Ahmedabad is the key city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world’s biggest cricket stadium. The venue is named after the premier.

India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

Ahmedabad got the nod over the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

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India’s Home Minister Amit Shah described the announcement as “a day of immense joy and pride for India”.

“Heartiest congratulations to every citizen of India on Commonwealth Association’s approval of India’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 in Ahmedabad.”

The future existence of the Commonwealth Games was in doubt last year when the movement struggled to find a replacement host for 2026 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew for cost reasons.

The Scottish city of Glasgow stepped in and will stage a slimmed-down version of the multi-sport format, meaning Britain will have hosted two editions in a row, after Birmingham in 2022.

The 2030 Games will mark the centenary of the inaugural event held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.

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Cricket among major sports dropped from Commonwealth Games

Cricket was among the major disciplines cut from the Commonwealth Games 2026, scheduled to run from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow.

The upcoming quadrennial event will feature only ten disciplines which means cricket’s return to the Games cut short.

Cricket, which is set to make its return to the Olympics after 128 years in Los Angeles in 2028, featuring both Men’s and Women’s T20Is, was last part of the CWG 2022 where it only featured Women’s T20 event.

Australia won the gold after beating India in the final, while New Zealand secured the bronze.

Besides cricket, wrestling, hockey, shooting, badminton, table tennis, squash, rugby sevens, beach volleyball and mountain biking are the other notable disciplines cut from the Games.

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Although no specific reason was provided by Glasgow, the host city, monetary issues appear to be one of the reasons for the trimmed-down Commonwealth Games 2026.

Remember, Glasgow stepped in as the host after the Australian state of Victoria pulled out of the hosting rights, citing rising costs.

The Games, last held in Glasgow in 2014, will be held across four venues, featuring around 3,000 athletes from up to 74 Commonwealth countries and territories.

“The 2026 Games will be a bridge to the Commonwealth Games of tomorrow – an exciting first step in our journey to reset and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future that minimises costs, reduces the environmental footprint, and enhances social impact – in doing so increasing the scope of countries capable of hosting,” Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir said in a statement.

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Commonwealth Games in limbo as Australian state pulls out as 2026 host

The Australian state of Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday citing major cost blow-outs, leaving organisers “hugely disappointed” as they scrambled to keep the multi-sport event afloat.

State Premier Daniel Andrews said the initial estimate of Aus$2 billion (US$1.36 billion) needed to hold the Games would more likely be around Aus$7 billion, which he called “well and truly too much”.

“I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them. Frankly, $7 billion for a sporting event, we are not doing that,” he said at a news conference in Melbourne.

“I will not take money out of hospitals and schools to host an event that is three times the cost estimated and budgeted for last year.

“The Games will not proceed in Victoria in 2026. We have informed Commonwealth Games authorities of our decision to seek to terminate the contract,” he said.

The event — featuring 20 sports and 26 disciplines — was due to be held across five regional hubs, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Gippsland and Shepparton, with each having its own athletes’ village.

Andrews said his team had looked at cutting the number of hubs or even moving the Games to the Victoria state capital Melbourne but “none of those options stack up”.

Instead, he announced a Aus$2 billion support package for regional Victoria.

Andrews refused to say how much it was costing to terminate the agreement but insisted talks with the Commonwealth Games Federation were amicable.

However, the London-based Federation was not happy, blasting the move as “hugely disappointing”.

“We are disappointed that we were only given eight hours’ notice and that no consideration was given to discussing the situation to jointly find solutions prior to this decision being reached by the government,” it said in a statement.

Victoria was only awarded the contract 14 months ago as the exclusive bidder, with the Federation claiming the state had since decided to include more sports, added an additional regional hub, and changed plans for venues.

These additional costs were “often against the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia”, it said, adding that it had received assurances that “sufficient funding was available to deliver the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games”.

Commonwealth Games Australia president Ben Houston was equally scathing, claiming the new cost estimates were a “gross exaggeration”.

“Beyond disappointing for us,” he told reporters. “It’s a comprehensive let-down for the athletes, the excited host communities.”

The decision to pull the pin leaves the fate of the Games up in the air, with fewer countries showing interest in recent times to take on a spectacle seen as losing its relevance.

The Federation insisted it remained “committed to finding a solution for the Games in 2026 that is in the best interest of our athletes and the wider Commonwealth Sport Movement”.

The event typically attracts more than 4,000 athletes from the 54 nations of the Commonwealth, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire.

The last Games, in 2022, were held in England after Birmingham stepped in late in the piece.

The Victorian state opposition called Andrews’ decision a “massive humiliation” and “hugely damaging to Victoria’s reputation”, suggesting it would hurt the state’s chances of being awarded big-ticket sporting events in the future.

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Inam, other medalists receive warm reception on their return to the country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani medalists who shone in the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games and Islamic Solidarity Games were given a warm reception on Monday at Islamabad Airport upon their return to the country.

Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Colonel (retd) Mohammad Asif Zaman welcomed the silver medalist of the Commonwealth Games Inam Butt and other top performers of the global event as they reached the country from the United Kingdom (UK).

Earlier DG PSB announced that a ceremony would be held in the honor of the athletes and present them with awards.

“We say welcome to our national heroes,” he said. “Gold medalists Arshad Nadeem and Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt as well as other medalists will also be given a warm welcome on their return to the country,” he continued.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistani athletes secured eight medals including two golds by weightlifter Nooh Butt and javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem in the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games 2022.

Whereas, Arshad also imitated alike performance in the Islamic Games as he claimed the gold by setting the Games record.

National wrestlers remained the major contributor to the country’s medal tally as Inam Butt, Zaman Anwar, and Sharif Tahir bagged a silver each.

Wrestlers Inayatullah and Ali Asad, on the other hand, managed to bag a bronze apiece, while Shah Hussain Shah claimed bronze in Judo.

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PSB likely to impose penalties on federations over missing athletes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Sports Board took notice of the growing number of missing national athletes from international competitions and decided to take action against the relevant federation including imposing fines for the cases.

According to the sources, PSB has been considering the imposition of up to two million PKR penalty to the concerned federation for each missing athlete.

Additionally, a proposal to make a no-objection certificate (NOC) mandatory for athletes before participating in international events is also under consideration by the Sports Board.

Earlier on Wednesday, two Pakistani boxers reportedly went missing in United Kindom after participating in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.

Salman Baloch and Nazeerullah disappeared before the Pakistani boxing team was set to depart for the country.

Meanwhile, four-times national swimming champion Faizan Akbar went missing last month from Hungary during World Swimming Championship 2022.

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Two Pakistani boxers go missing ahead of team’s return from CWG

BIRMINGHAM: Two Pakistani boxers went missing on Wednesday as the national boxing team started their return journey from the United Kingdom after participating in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games 2022.

According to the details, Pakistan Boxing Federation started the hunt for the missing athletes and immediately informed the relevant authorities about their disappearance.

“Police complaint has been lodged against the missing boxers while we are also in possession of their passports and other documents” confirmed Nasir Tung, Secretary Pakistan Boxing Federation.

Meanwhile, other members of the boxing team have left for the country without taking the missing boxers on board and will land at Islamabad Airport tonight.

It is pertinent to mention here that the national boxing team was comprised of five players and four officials that participated in the recently concluded event.

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Pakistan finishes at 18th as Commonwealth Games 2022 concludes

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan managed to secure 18th position with eight medals including two golds in the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games 2022.

Wrestlers-led Pakistan contingent managed to secure 18th position out of 72 different nations and territories despite a frustrating start to their campaign.

The international event remained majorly dominated by Australia as the Kangaroos claimed 178 medals including 67 gold, 57, silver, and 54 bronze.

The hosts of the recently-commenced Games, England finished at the second position – just two medals shy of the leader Australia – with 176 medals including 57 gold, 66 silver, and 53 bronze.

India claimed an overall fourth position in the Games with 61 medals, comprised of 22 gold, 16 silver, and 23 bronze and also remained the top Asian country in the standings.

It is pertinent to mention here weightlifter Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt won the first gold medal for Pakistan before the star athlete Arshad Nadeem produced an astounding outcome in the Javelin throw final to bag the second gold for the country.

National wrestlers remained the major contributor to the country’s medal tally as Inam Butt, Zaman Anwar, and Sharif Tahir bagged a silver each.

Wrestlers Inayatullah and Ali Asad, on the other hand, managed to bag a bronze apiece, while Shah Hussain Shah claimed bronze in Judo.

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England stun Australia to win their maiden CWG Gold in Women’s Hockey

BIRMINGHAM: England women’s hockey team produced a stunning outcome in their gold medal bout with the favourites Australia and claimed their first-ever gold in the Commonwealth Games.

England, who had faced Australia thrice in the Commonwealth Games final since 1998 and have lost all three of them, flipped the history as the home side handed a scintillating 2-1 defeat to the hot favourites Australia.

The English side had won a medal at every Commonwealth Games since hockey was added to the programme in 1998 – but never gold. On Sunday, however, the home side finally gets their hands on their maiden gold in the Games.

In a predictably tensed and edgy encounter between the two sides, despite a late Hockeyroos consolidation, goals from Holly Hunter and Tess Howard were sufficient to give England their first gold medal.

The women’s hockey team from India, on the other hand, thrashed New Zealand 2-1 in the penalty shootouts before the game ended evenly for both teams at 1-1.

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‘It would’ve been more exciting if Neeraj was here’ says Arshad Nadeem

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan’s ace athlete Arshad Nadeem revealed that he missed his Indian counterpart Neeraj Chopra’s presence in the Commonwealth Games after he bagged a historic gold medal in the men’s javelin throw final, here on Monday.

Speaking to ARY News following his astounding feat the other day, Arshad shared his inspirational journey from the Tokyo Olympics to creating history in the Commonwealth Games and stated that it was a matter of great pride for him to win a gold for Pakistan for the first time.

“I competed in international competitions for the first time since suffering an injury after the Tokyo Olympics. My targets were the Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships and Islamic Games,” he said.

“I’ve been working on my injury. Hopefully, I will earn more medals for Pakistan in the future”, hoped Arshad who defied an elbow and knee injury the other day to set the Commonwealth Games record with his magnificent throw of 90.18 metres.

“When I made an 88 metres throw and after (Anderson) Peters threw as well, I feel more motivated that there is still throw left in me and I can do that,” said Arshad as he beat World Atheltic Champion, Grenada’s Anderson Peter who threw a distance of 88.64m to finish second in the CWG final.

While he also surpassed Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo Olympics throw of 87.58m, the 25-year-old Arshad revealed that he has been friends with the Indian javelin star and claimed that he felt his absence during the Games.

“Injuries are part and parcel of the game. If Neeraj was here, it would’ve been more exciting. I pray for his recovery and wish him luck for his next competition” he added.

Moreover, the star athlete expressed the joy that he won the medal at a time when the country’s independence was just around the corner and stated that the whole nation would celebrate the 14th August with the medals this time.

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Australia thump New Zealand to book spot in CWG final against India

BIRMINGHAM: Megan Schutt starred with three wickets before the strong performance from the batters helped Australia Women beat New Zealand by five wickets in the second semi-final of the Commonwealth Games, here at Edgbaston on Saturday.

With the thumping win, Australia Women secured their spot in today’s final against India.

Australia’s remarkable depth in their batting played a crucial role in their triumph as typically reliable Alyssa Healy (14) and Meg Lanning (7) failed cheaply in their attempts to surpass New Zealand’s respectable total of 144/7.

All-rounder Tahlia McGrath remained impressive with her 34 off 23 as she combined excellently with opener Beth Mooney for a 56-run third-wicket stand before Rachael Haynes scored 19 off 18 and Ashleigh Gardner played an unbeaten knock of 19 off 20 to take their side to victory.

Kiwi pacer Lea Tahuhu, on the other hand, bowled superbly and grabbed three crucial wickets, however, her efforts went in vain as the fielding lapses cost greatly to the White Ferns and Australia achieved the target in the final over.

After being put into bat, New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine inspired with her scintillating knock of 53 off 48 while all-rounder Amelia Kerr showed great courage as she smashed 40 off 35 to help her side raise a competitive total amid a dismal show by other batters.

Right-arm pacer Schutt made an immediate impact when she bowled out Kiwi opener Suzie Bates for a duck and then removed Georgia Plimmer in the sixth over for 17 off 16.

Schutt had her third when she dismissed Brooke Halliday after she tried to dent Australian bowling with her powerful 16 off 10 deliveries.

For Australia, apart from Schutt, Tahlia bagged two wickets while Jess Jonassen made a scalp too.

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