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Commonwealth Games Federation update

New Vision, New President and the first ever Commonwealth Games on African Soil announced at the 2015 CGF General Assembly

Auckland, New Zealand, 2 September 2015

The Commonwealth Sports Movement is assured of a strong and impactful future as key decisions were taken today, 2 September 2015, at the Commonwealth Games Federation’s General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand.

Decisions included the unanimous approval of Transformation 2022, the Commonwealth Games Federation’s ambitious new strategic plan, the election of a new President for 2015- 2019 and the appointment of the South African City of Durban as host of the XXII Commonwealth Games, heralding the first ever international multi-sport Games to take place on African soil.

Transformation 2022 is a seven-year strategic plan that aspires to broaden the Federation’s focus from the four-year operational cycle of hosting Commonwealth Games to a more far-reaching role as a global movement – focused on partnerships, engagement and value generation – that unites athletes, citizens and communities. It includes proposals for a new sports programme of compulsory and optional sports, which now sees the number of compulsory sports at a Commonwealth Games increased from 10 to 16 – and the implementation of a sports quota system for 2022.

The result of the approved changes to the sports programme creates a Compulsory Sports Programme for the 2022, 2026 and 2030 editions of the Commonwealth Games comprising: Aquatics (Swimming, inc Para Swimming); Athletics (inc Para Athletics); Badminton; Boxing (Men and Women); Cycling (Road); Gymnastics (Artistic); Hockey; Judo; Lawn Bowls (inc Para Lawn Bowls); Netball; Rugby Sevens (Men and Women); Squash, Table Tennis; Triathlon; Wrestling and Weightlifting (inc Para Powerlifting). And the introduction of a pool of Optional Sports/Disciplines comprising: Aquatics (Diving); Archery; Basketball (3×3); Cricket; Cycling (Track, Mountain Bike, Para); Gymnastics (Rhythmic); Shooting (Clay Target, Pistol, Full Bore, Small Bore); Para Table Tennis; Para Triathlon; Wheelchair Basketball (3×3); and Volleyball (Beach).

Delegates received a final Candidate City Briefing from Durban, South Africa – including contributions from Alec Moemi, Director General for Sport and Recreation for the South African Government and Durban’s Mayor James Nxumalo – before the Federation’s 71 members voted to unanimously award the hosting rights to the XXII Commonwealth Games.

Louise Martin CBE was elected to the post of President, the first female leader of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Elections were overseen by Honorary Legal Advisor Sharad Rao. The location of the Federation’s next gathering was also announced – with the Canadian City of Edmonton selected as host city of the 2016 General Assembly. Joining the newly-elected President will be Vice-Presidents Bruce Robertson (Canada) and Gideon Sam (South Africa) who were re-elected and Kereyn Smith (New Zealand) who joins them for the first time on the Executive Board for the 2015- 2019 cycle.