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General discussion / Re: Commonwealth Games
« on: August 09, 2022, 08:46:45 AM »Welcome back, EG.Not sure about the exact process, but all-Ireland sports can choose to permit/accommodate an NI team for the CG if they choose. It's kinda easier for individual sports than team sports, since you dont want to discriminate or deny chances to the former (individuals), while the latter (teams) are maybe more sensitive because of the "representative" side of things.
How does this Commonwealth Games thing operate, then? My understanding is that most sports are governed on an all-Ireland basis. Do the Irish federations for the likes of Cricket, Hockey, and Track-and-Field set up a special division for the CG so they can field an NI team?
Probably the most prominent sports for NI are Boxing and Bowls. For Boxing, the Ulster (9 county) Branch of the IABA is delegated the task of preparing and managing the team and tbf, they seem to embrace it completely. Dunno much about Bowls, mind, but I have a feeling it's more popular in NI than ROI? Either way, I suspect there's NI Sports Council funding in play, which may influence the governing bodies? While for the competitors themselves, it's an opportunity to compete at a decent level for those who may not be good enough to make the Olympics. Also a couple of weeks in the sun! (Last time was in Oz, next time Canada and even Brum enjoyed good weather this time).
However some other sports are much more tricky. There is no good reason imo why Rugby couldn't enter a 7's team made up of NI players, but I suspect the IRFU would explode before they allowed that.
Similarly with Hockey, NI provides more than its share of players for Ireland - and occasionally a few Olympians for the GB team - so there's no (imo good) reason why you couldn't have an NI team, but I guess it's sensitive? Ditto Cricket.
Meanwhile Netball is not administered on an all-Ireland basis, so Team NI gets an entry there.
As for Track and Field, essentially they're individuals, a mix of f-t pro, semi-pro and amateur (near enough) and organised by NI Athletics, so although there's no prize money involved, athletes really should be allowed to compete if they choose*.
On which last point I doubt any have ever declined to take part, for even if it's not near the standard of the Olympics or Worlds, it's a reasonable level and a good opportunity for them to enjoy a multi-sports Games, with all that brings for training, competition and exposure etc.
That's if you don't mind attracting a "skelp" from Fear Bun Na Sceilpe on this forum if you're from a Nationalist vackground...
* - Unless they're allowing their flat to be used for dealing in drugs, that is!
Who was dealing drugs? Was that an athlete?
A runner Leon Reid.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/athletics/northern-ireland-sprinter-banned-commonwealth-24472108
There must be a rule forbidding anyone who's serving a sentence, suspended or otherwise from competing.
Rightly so. Mind that story now