Commonwealth Games Scotland (CGS) officials have been attending the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis this week, where they have been involved in extensive discussions and votes that contributed to some landmark decisions affecting future Games. In the vote to decide the host city for the 2018 Games the Gold Coast Australia beat Hambantota, Sri Lanka by 43 votes to 27. A number of changes to the Games sports programme were also made, in addition to the constitutional business of CGF elections to their executive board and committees.

President of the CGF Mike Fennell stood down after 17 years continuous service. Mike has always been a supporter of Commonwealth Game Scotland (CGS) and the Glasgow 2014 bid and fully supported the development of the Commonwealth Youth Games by Scotland in 2000. We would like to thank him for his valued support and wish him well for the future. He was succeeded by CGF vice-president, HRH Tunku Imran who stood unopposed, as did CGS Immediate Past Chairman, Louise Martin CBE who was elected for a fourth term as Honorary Secretary.

The Games sport programme was under the spotlight following the quadrennial review that took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last May, that involved consultation with all 71 countries. The Committee’s recommendations were largely adopted with a few significant changes that are likely to impact favourably for Scotland.

Agreed changes include:

The total number of entries allowed in the singles events in racquet sports to be standardised at three men and three women per country.

The maximum number of entries per country for judo and wrestling has been set at two per weight category, so long as the total number does not exceed the number of events available. This is in line with weightlifting.

There is also now agreement to have two bronze medals awarded in judo and wrestling, in line with current IF rules.

While some changes to the shooting programme made post the 2006 Games will stand i.e. no pairs events, retention of a number of women’s events including the smallbore rifle prone and women’s skeet to give a balance between the men’s and women’s programmes has been achieved.

The need to identify and select the specific Para-Sport events no later than three years prior to each Commonwealth Games was approved.

The number of para sport events was increased from 15 to 20 events in line with recommendations from CGS, Glasgow 2014 and Scottish Disability Sport.

The inclusion of women’s events in a number of sports including rugby 7s and boxing was also approved.

The addition of a team event in triathlon was approved.
Whilst these changes strictly don’t come into force until the 2018 Games, the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee will now review all aspects of their sports programme and consider the possible inclusion of one or more of the newly endorsed events. It plans to have this process completed by March 2012.

A number of additional optional sports for future Games hosts from 2018 onwards were approved and the Executive Board has also endorsed a push to get 20/20 cricket as part of the future of Commonwealth Games.

The final item of business on Friday 11 November was the conclusion of the race to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games between Hambantota, Sri Lanka and Gold Coast, Australia. The extensive process has included a technical evaluation of each city’s bid documents and site visits to each city by the CGF Evaluation Committee chaired by Louise Martin CBE, as well as visits by representatives of all Commonwealth nations and territories who each have one vote.

Following a short presentation by each candidate city, CGF delegates voted for the Gold Coast by 43 votes to 27 and Australia is now set to host the Games for a fifth time in April 2018.
The 2018 sport programme will be: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting, Wrestling.

Congratulating the Gold Coast, Michael Cavanagh, Chairman, Commonwealth Games Scotland said: “We would like to congratulate Gold Coast on their winning bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Scotland was in the same position exactly four years ago and we know what a defining moment this is for everyone involved.

“We have every confidence that Gold Coast will stage a fabulous Games that will reflect their own sporting culture and heritage, whilst continuing to strengthen the Commonwealth Games brand. We look forward to working with them as the host city after Glasgow.”

This decision will now allow CGS to start to form its initial plans for Team Scotland’s participation.