Gambia’s participation at Glasgow 2014 in doubt after Commonwealth withdrawal

Gambia’s participation at Glasgow 2014 in doubt

The Gambia’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth has raised doubts about the country’s participation at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Article 10.3 of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Constitution states: “Countries must be full members of the Commonwealth, as accepted by the Commonwealth Secretariat.”

Despite last night’s withdrawal announcement from Banjul, a CGF spokesman said that they would continue as normal until they were officially advised by the Commonwealth Secretariat that Gambia were no longer members.

“The CGF is aware of reports that the Gambia has declared its intention to withdraw from the Commonwealth of Nations, but as yet we have not received any official advice on the matter,” he told insidethegames.

“As a result, the CGF continues to work with key partners, including The Gambia National Olympic Committee, on preparations for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.”

Glasgow 2014 took a similar view to the CGF and repeated the assertion that the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are open to all members of the Commonwealth.

“Until we are advised otherwise by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will have 71 participating nations and territories,” they told the website Inside The Games, which reports Olympic, Commonwealth and Paralympic Games news.

However, as well as limiting the likelihood of the Gambia participating next year in Glasgow, it could also force a change in the route of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

The Relay is set to visit the Gambia on New Year’s Eve as its first visit on African soil before departing for Sierra Leone on January 1.

The Gambia has competed in every Commonwealth Games since 1970, bar Edinburgh 1986, when there was an African-led boycott, and sent athletes to Delhi in 2010 to participate in athletics, boxing and wrestling.

They won their only ever medal, Sheikh Faye, a bronze in the men's high jump, on their Games debut, also in Edinburgh in 1970.