Indian Olympic Association’s executive council is set to meet next month to take a final call on its boycott from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. IOA is currently protesting against shooting being removed from the competition.
IOA’s general secretary Rajeev Mehta made a clear statement regarding this issue by stating that the council will meet next month to take a final decision on this matter while keeping in mind the interests of the sportsperson.
“We have noted the views of some of our sportsperson and some NSFs are also asserting their right to participate in the Commonwealth Games. In the light of all these, our Executive Council will meet next month and take a decision on the matter,” Mehta told PTI.
Mehta, however confirmed that the IOA had backed the amendment which was proposed in 2015 with India showing dominance in other sports as well. He also added that the IOA’s support to that amendment had no relation with shooting.
“In the 2015 CGF Assembly, the IOA backed an amendment which related to compulsory sports and so not related to shooting. The amendment included wrestling, table tennis and gymnastics among compulsory sports and cricket included among optional sports. India seconded the amendment as it had many positive aspects,” Mehta said.
“Earlier the choice of optional sports was restricted to seven but the 2015 amendment to Article 22 (Sports in the Programme for CWG) removed the cap in the number of optional sports also.
“Shooting was never a compulsory sport in Commonwealth Games. It has always been an optional sport but at the same time has been a part of every CWG since 1966 with the exception of 1970 in Edinburgh. The CGF Constitution of 2005 and 2014 mentions shooting as a choice of the host. In 2010 Delhi CWG also, shooting was an optional sport,” he added.
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