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Journalism of Courage
The Indian government confirmed on Tuesday that ‘political enemy Pakistan’ won’t be stopped from travelling to Ahmedabad for the Commonwealth Games in 2030, and other multi-lateral tournaments, saying that not inviting them ‘will only weaken our candidature for the 2036 Olympics’.
India will be confirmed as the host country for the 2030 CWG during the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly on November 26, with Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar chosen as the venues.
Sporting relations between India and Pakistan have hit an all-time low following the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, in which 26 civilians were killed. The government faced criticism for granting visas to the Pakistani hockey team for the Asia Cup in Bihar in August and next month’s Junior World Cup.
A sports ministry official said on Tuesday that their stand was vindicated, citing the example of Indonesia, which has been sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for stopping Israeli athletes from entering the country.
A sports ministry source said: “Government of India was always clear in its stand about playing political enemy Pakistan in multi-lateral tournaments. The Government’s stand is totally vindicated now. Boycotting Pakistan would have been detrimental to our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of hosting the Summer Olympics in 2036. We could have attracted a blanket ban like Indonesia from the IOC for hosting any international events. What happened to them could have happened to us.”
The official added: “We are on course to stage the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad in 2030, and again, if we choose not to invite Pakistan, it will only weaken our candidature for the 2036 Olympics. Government had to bear the flak of many citizens on social media after the Pahalgam Terror Attack, but the IOC’s decision to ban Indonesia for political interference has only vindicated our decision.”
Last week, the IOC urged global sports federations not to host any sporting events in Indonesia after the country banned Israeli gymnasts from the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta. Indonesia denied visas to Israeli gymnasts, a move that Reuters reported was ‘in line with the country’s policy of cutting ties with Israel until it recognises the independence of the state of Palestine.’
Consequently, the IOC said it was cutting off all discussions about any potential Olympic Games bid by Indonesia until the government provided assurances that all athletes, irrespective of nationality, would be eligible to compete there in future.
Indonesia has expressed an interest in hosting the 2036 Olympics. India, too, is in contention to host the Games in 11 years and was in the ‘continuous dialogue’ phase with the IOC before the Olympic body paused the discussion to review its host selection process.
