Rugby League in bid for Commonwealth Games

[DIEHARD]

League in bid for Games

JAMAL Idris and Jharal Yow Yeh could be on their way to becoming Commonwealth Games stars if rugby league wins its bid for inclusion in the program at a meeting starting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

The Rugby League International Federation confirmed yesterday it would make its case for inclusion before the Commonwealth Games Federation's sport committee, with the aim of being included in the 2018 competition if the Gold Coast wins its bid to host the event.

The Gold Coast and its only rival, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, will present their bid books to the CGF in Malaysia next week, with the host city decision to be taken on November 11 in St Kitts and Nevis.

The British-based Rugby Football League is taking the lead in the sport's bid and the RLF's director of participation, David Gent, will present the proposal. Gent was previously involved in a successful bid by the International Canoe Federation to be added to the list of optional sports for the Commonwealth Games.

Australia captain Darren Lockyer and New Zealand counterpart Benji Marshall have made video messages to be presented as part of rugby league's pitch.

RLIF international development manager Tas Baitieri was optimistic yesterday.

"We have been working on it for the last six months and we have 16 countries lined up to participate," Baitieri said.

"Let's hope it goes our way -- we think we have a good showing."
The proposal is for either a sevens or nines competition to be added to the 11-day Games program, but the RLIF favours the nines version.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite is also enthusiastic about the proposal.

"The future of the Commonwealth Games is to make sure that you have sports that are strong in the Commonwealth," he said.

"That's what it's about, it's not a small version of the Olympics, it needs that point of difference."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

Rugby League’s success as a growing international sport has been recognised by the Commonwealth Games Federation at their meeting in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

The Federation today gave its unanimous support to an application for Rugby League to become a Category Three sport, an important step which will enable the sport to continue to expand and develop across the globe.

The application was presented to the Sports Review Committee of the Commonwealth Games Federation by a delegation from the Rugby League International Federation led by David Gent, Chairman of the RLIF’s Commonwealth Commission.

“This is an exciting day for Rugby League and I would like to place on record my thanks to the Commonwealth Games Federation for their support of our application,” said Gent.

“Rugby League has a long tradition of being played in Commonwealth countries and so this recognition by the CGF will ensure that the game continues to prosper in regions such as Europe and Oceania.

“Recognition by the Commonwealth Games Federation will also enable Commonwealth countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Caribbean to develop the game and help the RLIF strengthen competition at a Commonwealth and world level.”

Category Three recognition is an important first step towards presence at a future Games and will allow Rugby League to work with the regional Commonwealth Games associations on development projects.

Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president HRH Tunku Imran said: “Category Three sports are those that we recognise as working towards future inclusion and we are very pleased to see the high level of commitment by the Rugby League International Federation to further develop the sport across the Commonwealth.

“It is a key criteria that any sport on our programme is played widely across as many of our member nations as possible.”

Rugby League’s successful inclusion followed an eight-month application process steered by the RLIF’s Commonwealth Commission, representing all six regions of the Commonwealth Games.

Richard Lewis, the Deputy Chairman of the RLIF and Chairman of the RFL, said recognition by the Commonwealth Games Federation has deep significance for Rugby League.

“This is the first time we have had official recognition by a global multi-sports organisation and is a massive step forward for the sport,” said Lewis.

“Although it does pave the way for Rugby League to be played in future Commonwealth Games, that’s not what this application is about. In the short- to medium term, Commonwealth Games recognition will help us realise our ambitions to further establish Rugby League as a truly international sport.”

The officers of the Commonwealth Commission, which will now draft a Commonwealth development strategy, comprises Eric Perez (Canada Rugby League and Americas), Sue Morris (Jamaican Rugby League Association and Caribbean), Anthony Micallef (Malta Rugby League and Europe), Louis Fourie (South Africa Rugby League and Africa), Asia (no representative) and Colin Love (Australian Rugby League and Oceania); Richard Lewis (RLIF), Nadene Conlon (New Zealand Rugby League and ‘athlete representative’) and Danny Kazandjian (co-ordinator).

http://www.superleaguefans.com/

[DIEHARD]

A welcome boost for the game, for one being recognised by the Commonwealth Games Federation goes a long way in helping us get recognised by some of the other multi-sport organisations out there.

Secondly it gives some of our developing leagues in Commonwealth countries, far greater access to assistance and funding, now that the sport is recognised.

By being a tier 3 sport, it puts us in some interesting company, with Cricket, European Handball, Volleyball, Water Polo, Golf and Fencing all being tier 3 sports as well.

[Chaos]

I'm not quite sure what all that means Diehard...what would a 'Commonwealth development strategy' consist of?