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<p>The decision on which core and optional sports are included in the Commonwealth
Games sports programme rests with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and its
constituent members. A decision on the status of shooting as an optional sport was
taken at the 2015 Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly, and also reaffirmed
in 2016, when the new CGF Constitution was approved.</p><p> </p><p>Shooting was not
included at point of bid in the sport programme for the 2022 Games in Birmingham,
but following interest from a number of the optional sports and disciplines, the Birmingham
2022 Organising Committee has recently concluded an Additional Sports review and costing
exercise, considering the merits of adding additional sports, including shooting,
to the Games within available resources. The review considered financial considerations
and the potential for additional revenue generation, the availability of suitable
venues, and alignment with the CGF Constitution and the objectives of Games partners.
It also considered submissions from each of the sports concerned. Based on the conclusions
from the review, the Organising Committee’s recommendation was to support the inclusion
of Women’s Cricket, Beach Volleyball and Para Table Tennis, but not to add Shooting
or Archery to the programme for Birmingham.This recommendation was subsequently approved
by the CGF Executive Board, and confirmed by a vote of the Commonwealth Games Federation’s
membership, who make the final decision on the matter. Looking ahead, any consideration
of shooting’s inclusion in future games will be a matter for the Commonwealth Games
Federation, and the Organising Committees of future Games.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
does recognise the strength of feeling on the matter among the shooting community,
and the desire to have an opportunity to showcase the sport in 2022, and as such I
have spoken to the Commonwealth Games Federation regarding the matter. They have agreed
to advise British Shooting on the next steps for taking forward proposals for an event
for Commonwealth shooters, to be delivered separately from the Games. The responsibility
for any event would sit with British Shooting, but I hope that this will give the
shooting community in the UK the opportunity to compete against shooters from across
the Commonwealth in a UK event in 2022.</p><p> </p>
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