Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Pty Ltd (M2006), the Organising Committee for the XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006, is about to undertake a process designed to determine whether there should be any sports added to its existing sports program.

The sports signed off on by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) as part of Melbourne’s bid were:

Aquatics – including Swimming, Diving and Synchronised Swimming
Athletics
Badminton
Boxing
Cricket
Cycling
Gymnastics
Hockey
Lawn Bowls
Netball
Rugby 7’s
Shooting
Squash
Table Tennis
Weightlifting
Events for Elite Athletes with a Disability.

The M2006 Board has expressed a desire to investigate whether there are further sports deserving of addition to the current program. Indeed, since the announcement of Melbourne as the host city several sports have expressed a strong interest in being included. Over the coming weeks the M2006 Board will finalise criteria for the possible acceptance of new sports and circulate these to sports that have expressed interest.

M2006 CEO, Mr Leighton Wood, said ‘We would like the final sports program confirmed as early as possible to allow us to confidently plan for our event. The Board wishes to investigate whether there are any sports currently not on the program that could add value to the program. Interested sports will be invited to submit applications for consideration over the next two months’

‘We would expect a final recommendation by the Sports Committee, chaired by Mr Sam Coffa, to the Board regarding the inclusion of new sports by the end of this year. Any decision by the Board to add a sport would require sanction by both the CGF and ACGA’. Mr Wood said.

‘Criteria would include such things as the sport’s ability to add to the spectator appeal of the event, the organisational ability of the sport, the quality of the competition that could be provided and the cost benefit of staging the sport’ Mr Wood added.

Media enquires should be addressed to: Mr Leighton Wood – Chief Executive Officer Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Pty Ltd

Source: Melbourne 2006