Hello there, I have two updates to give to you. First is the news of the Commonwealth Games Federation's changes on its sports list. I was told about this first by Archery GB and they are doing their bit lobbying for archery to be taken seriously in the Commonwealth Games. I do not have the strongest lobbying powers myself but I am in contact with Archery GB and we share our ideas for promoting archery quite well. They are working consistently with other Commonwealth Nations to deliver a consistent approach to support their sport. 

My thoughts on these changes. I think this change does not do much to bring archery to the forefront of the Commonwealth Games. They are talking about changing the sports list by having athletics and swimming as compulsory sports and allowing host cities to be flexible and creative in delivering their own Commonwealth Games. But to be flexible they will have to host 15 sports at minimum with athletics and swimming and instead of choosing from an optional list, it is now a core list of Commonwealth Sports that consists of 22 optional sports. Now like archery some of these sports have been played permanently at the CWG such as squash, netball and lawn balls. These are now vulnerable to being taken away from them as the Commonwealth Games is their biggest stage. This shakeup could be both good and bad for the sports and the host nations. 

One crucial argument that Dame Louise Martin has made for this proposal is that it gives more freedom of choice for the host nations that can be reliable economical for them to host. This is understandable considering that the Olympic Games has always run host cities into financial problems and overbuilding structures that are not sustainable. But the Commonwealth Games is not like the Olympics in one respect, it doesn't expect it's hosts to risk financial ruin to host it. The hosts of the Olympics are forced to make expensive bids so that they can say to the International Olympic Committee that they want to host the Olympics so badly that they pitch their bids as real estate development and infrastructure projects. On average an Olympic Games would cost around £8-12 billion to host, a Commonwealth Games would cost around £1.2 billion. The CGF makes sure it's hosts stay financially stable because they have sports that require relatively small athletics venues, expect them to use existing venues or upgrade them for bigger capacities, and they have only one-third of all the nations of the world competing. Most importantly in keeping with its mission, the CGF operates as an international enterprise with a social objective for civil rights and sports development. So the CGF does not need to worry about the financial burden on the hosts, as long as there are sports that are culturally reflective of the Commonwealth of Nations and their member states' character. 

Then there is the progress on my part to campaign on the issue. For which I am still working towards. I am going to be writing up my presentation letter and getting some references from my friends in politics to push for this campaign for archery with my own suggestions. All I can do now is deliver the petition and try for and make a change on my own part. 

Thank You.