Shooting sports look set to be excluded from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, reportedly due to the lack of a suitable venue.

This will be the first time since 1970 that shooting has not featured at the Games.  The BBC reported that the exclusion was due to a “lack of appropriate facilities” near to the host city.

Bisley Shooting Ground in Surrey, which hosted the shooting at the Manchester 2002 Games, was apparently dismissed as too far away, despite plans for track cycling to be held in London.

• Bisley is 130 miles away from the Birmingham venue. 
• London cycling venue is 135 miles away from the Birmingham venue.

Commonwealth trap champion Laetisha Scanlan commented:  “I was very, very shocked (to hear the news). It’s really, really surprising that it’s going to be taken out, especially in a country where the sport is flourishing."

From a British Shooting spokesperson: "British Shooting would like to congratulate Birmingham on being announced as host city and what a great opportunity it is for British athletes to compete on home soil.

"However we are disappointed that it doesn’t appear that shooting will be in those Games. It will be a huge disappointment not only to shooters from the home countries but right across the Commonwealth.

"From a parochial perspective, our home countries regularly secure around 30 medals between them in shooting sports, and it would seem strange for a UK host to ignore the opportunities for such widespread home medal success for their athletes.

"We hope there is still time and an opportunity for the shooting community to engage in dialogue with the CGF and Birmingham to ensure some aspects of our sport will be included.”

Ed Solomons, former FITASC sporting world champion commented: "Personally I think it is a great shame that shooting, one of our best medal hopes has been cut from the games.

"We have fantastic facilities at Bisley that could be easily utilised (I believe other events are being held off-site and further afield than Bisley) with easy access from transport links."

Make your voice heard by signing this petition to ask the Commonwealth Games Federation to reconsider this decision.