On Monday, an Annual General Meeting (AGM) was conducted at the headquarters where Indian Olympic Association (IOA) withdrew its boycott call inflicted upon 2022 Commonwealth Sports Games in Birmingham. The association also expressed the desire to bid to host for various multi-nation sporting events namely, Olympics and Youth Olympics. In the meeting, several burning topics were discussed, from the rejection of the controversial 2017 draft of the Sports Code to hosting the prestigious IOC session in Mumbai.
Since shooting was out of the roster of sports in the upcoming edition of the games, IOA president Narinder Batra had mentioned that India might withdraw from the Games until shooting was included.
During the AGM, IOA has decided to submit a formal proposal for hosting the Commonwealth Shooting Championships in India prior to the event in England. This idea was initiated by both the national and international shooting bodies as a measure to calm the situation after the sport’s exclusion from 2022 Commonwealth Sports Games.
IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said in a press conference, “In the AGM, we have taken back the decision to withdraw from the 2022 Commonwealth Sports Games in Birmingham."
CGF President Dame Louise Martin confirmed India’s participation at the Birmingham Games and said, “The CGF and the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement are delighted India has confirmed their intent to participate at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Sports Games during their Annual General Meeting in New Delhi”.
Mehta added, “We are also bidding for either the 2026 or 2026 Commonwealth Sports Games. The House passed a resolution on this bid.”
The country’s apex body for Olympic sports will go to the government after seeking approval by the AGM for the necessary clearances to host the multi-sport event.
The major decisions taken during the meeting include:
- Confirmation given by IOA about 2020 National Games which would be conducted in Goa, starting from 20 to November 4.
- The association is expecting 150-member strong Tokyo Olympics contingent and medals in double digits.
