Excluded Sports From Commonwealth Games 2026 | 23 Oct 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

In the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026 Glasgow, six of the 12 sports in which India won medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games have been excluded. 

  • The games that are excluded are Badminton, cricket, hockey, squash, table tennis, and wrestling. 
  • India strongly protested the exclusion of key sports from the Glasgow Games, as they are India's top-performing events.

What are the Recent Developments Related to CWG 2026? 

  • About: 
    • The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will be held in Scotland from 23rd July to 2nd August 2026, marking a return to the city 12 years after the 2014 Games. 
  • Excluded Games: 
    • Hockey: 
      • Hockey has been part of the CWG since 1998, with India ranked as the second-best team in CWG history, securing six medals: one gold, four silver, and one bronze for both men’s and women’s teams. 
      • In the Birmingham 2022 edition, the Indian men's team finished second, while the women’s team earned a bronze. 
    • Wrestling: 
      • India has historically excelled in wrestling, with 114 medals to date, including 49 gold, 39 silver, and 26 bronze.  
      • In the Birmingham CWG, the country won 12 medals in wrestling, including six gold. 
    • Badminton: 
      • India achieved six medals in badminton at the Birmingham Games, comprising three golds 
    • Table Tennis: 
      • Introduced in the CWG in 2002, India has won medals in table tennis at every edition, totaling 20 medals. 
    • Squash and Cricket: 
      • They were included at the 1998 CWG, in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). 
  • Reason for Exclusion: 
    • The exclusion of certain sports from the CWG 2026 is due to budget limitations. 
    • Victoria (Australia), withdrew from hosting due to high costs, and Glasgow, now hosting on a tight budget, has reduced the Games to four venues.

What are the Key Facts Related to CWG?

  • It is a quadrennial international multisport event contested by athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. 
  • It is managed by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). 
    • It is the organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games. 
    • It is an organisation headquartered and incorporated in the UK, but working across 72 member nations and territories. 
  • The first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in August 1930. 

Commonwealth 

  • The Commonwealth of Nations is a group of 56 countries composed mostly of former British colonies. 
  • It was established by the London Declaration in 1949. 
  • While members of the Commonwealth are predominantly located in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, with many of them emerging economies, the three European members of the group are Cyprus, Malta, and the U.K. 
  • The developed nations of the Commonwealth are Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Q. Consider the following statements: (2010)

  1. The Commonwealth has no charter, treaty or constitution.
  2. All the territories/countries once under the British empire (jurisdiction/rule/mandate) automatically joined the Commonwealth as its members.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only  

(b) 2 only 

(c) Both 1 and 2  

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)