Government backs shooting despite exclusion from 2022 Games

The Government has confirmed that it recognises the importance of shooting and will continue to make funding available for competitive shooters despite the decision to exclude shooting from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The decision by the organisers of the Birmingham Games is reportedly due to lack of appropriate facilities near to the host city, and will mean that no competitive shooting will take place at the Commonwealth Games for the first time since 1970. A full programme of shooting sports will take place at this year's Games in Australia next month.

MPs debated the decision in a House of Commons debate on Wednesday 21 March led by Jim Shannon MP from Strangford in Northern Ireland. Mr Shannon questioned why Bisley Shooting Ground in Surrey had been dismissed as a potential venue for shooting on the grounds that it was too far away, despite the fact that it was used as a venue during the 2002 Games in Manchester.

Mr Shannon concluded his speech by stating: "What an outcry there would be if there were no athletics—no long jump or high jump—or swimming. I believe that there should be an outcry of concern about shooting sports. Let us do what we can and secure the sport for the future gold medallists among us—perhaps not us, but our families—and provide shooting in Birmingham in 2022."

A number of MPs who spoke in the debate supported the Countryside Alliance proposal to hold an international shooting competition in the UK to coincide with the 2022 Games if the Birmingham organisers do not reconsider their decision.

Responding for the Government, Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch MP, stated: "Shooting is, and always has been, an optional sport, and that status was reaffirmed by the Commonwealth Games Federation general assembly in 2015… It is not a decision with which any Government can, or should, interfere."

Ms Crouch went on to say that "we [the Government] recognise the importance of shooting", and confirmed that shooting would still receive funding from UK Sport.

The Countryside Alliance will continue to challenge the decision to exclude shooting from the 2022 Games, and look to highlight the importance of shooting at every opportunity.

Countryside Alliance, Head of Shooting, Liam Stokes, commented: "shooting sports are accessible, fun, sociable, and healthy, and we in the UK are very good at them! While it is disappointing that there is still no commitment to include shooting in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, we are pleased that so many MPs turned out to discuss the situation and that there was enthusiasm for the Alliance proposal to host an alternative international shooting competition here in the UK."

You can view our full briefing note on the debate here.