Making another strong pitch for India to pull out of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra said that it “is a waste of time.” Birmingham Games are scheduled to be held in 2022. “It’s my strong view that Commonwealth Games have no standard. We get 60 to 70 to 100 medals in Commonwealth but when it comes to Olympics we get one or two. I think we should look at better competitions to prepare for the Olympics and that's where we should go. There may be some events where there is competition (in CWG) but I don't think it is the place to go,” Batra said.
“If you need sports to improve then you need to think straight. We are not here to make everyone happy. Once we were part of the British empire but we are not slaves anymore. We became independent in 1947. There are 30 countries of Commonwealth who do not play in the Games. So we are not obliged to play. Finally, it (participating in the Games) is a political decision but I feel Commonwealth Games is a waste of time,” Batra added.
He said the CWG organizers should shut shop if they can’t find sponsors. “If the CWG organizers are saying that they spent 22 million on the last Games and now they don’t have money (to conduct shooting), then please shut your shop. “If you don't have sponsors and you don't have money then why you are wasting everyone's time. If you don't have money to do the Games then don't make it a joke,” the IOA president who is also the president of the world hockey federation (FIH) said.
