The Aussie sports pointer in India’s Commonwealth Games
Steve Larkin |
Australia expect sports axed from the next Commonwealth Games to get a pointer to their future when India are confirmed as hosts for the 2030 edition.
The Indian city of Ahmedabad will be ratified as the 2030 host city by Commonwealth Sport, formerly known as the Commonwealth Games Federation, at its general assembly on Wednesday.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) chief Craig Phillips expects the Indians to confirm the full sporting roster for the 2030 Games in April.
But he expects India to detail some 2030 plans, with Ahmedabad’s Games likely to feature about 18 sports after a raft were excluded from next year’s scaled-down version in Glasgow.
“It’s still to play out, where it will actually land,” Phillips told AAP.
“My sense of it will be somewhere between 15 to 18 sports, which by comparison brings you back to Gold Coast (in 2018) when we had 18 sports.
“Birmingham (in 2022) was 20 – it seems to be a bit of a sweet spot around that number.
“That is probably where India will end up landing, but there’s still a bit of work to go to settle what the final program is.”
Many of India’s traditional medal sources at a Commonwealth Games, including hockey and shooting, were taken off a Glasgow bill of only 10 sports.
But India want to prove the worth of their bid to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad.
The International Olympic Committee has flagged “fundamental concerns” for India to address before seriously considering the bid.
They include governance issues on India’s Olympic committee and winning more medals – India won just six, finishing 71st at last year’s Paris Games.
India’s sole Commonwealth Games, in 2010 in Delhi, were pockmarked by corruption allegations, venue delays, athlete village concerns and security fears.
Glasgow saved next year’s Games following the Victorian government’s shock reneging on hosting.
Scotland’s second Games in a dozen years are funded by the Victorian government, with $200 million of its $380 million compensation package directed to Glasgow organisers.
“To have Glasgow stepping in for ’26, and then having 2030 locked away, will be really important,” Phillips said.
“It is a lot of comfort, it means a lot more certainty.
“When the Victorian government cancelled the Games, things weren’t looking particularly good for a while.
“So to have both the Games lined up, and the Youth Games in Malta in ’27 as well, it’s shaping up well.”
Glasgow’s edition will use four current venues and existing accommodation for athletes and staffers.
Athletics, swimming, 3×3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing and judo are on the pared program.
“While there’s a reduced program, the other thing about Glasgow is there is a different way of delivering the Games as well with some of the things they’re trying,” Phillips said.
“I would think that provides some learnings in terms of future hosting – and positive ones, because it shows you can actually stage the Games for a lower cost.”
Nigeria, beaten by India for the 2030 Games, and New Zealand have expressed interest in hosting in 2034.
AAP
