Australia will probably be with out two key medal hopes on the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Video games, after the Commonwealth Video games Federation (CGF) immediately introduced a closely decreased 10-sport format which can exclude hockey, amongst many others.
The announcement revealed a revised format from CGF and Commonwealth Video games Scotland (CGS), which recovered the Video games with lower than two years till the Opening Ceremony after the Victorian Authorities withdrew late as hosts in August final yr.
Within the month because the Scotland Authorities introduced its dedication to the occasion in September, Hockey Australia joined England Hockey, Scottish Hockey, Hockey Wales, Hockey India and Hockey New Zealand with a co-signed letter to the Worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH) encouraging them to foyer CGF for hockey’s inclusion.
Regardless of their efforts and following good collaboration between the 2 sporting our bodies, hockey will probably be one in every of 11 sports activities that won’t characteristic.
This will probably be a primary for the game in 26 years, with CGF choosing sports activities that require indoor venues.
“It’s a disappointing announcement, not only for hockey however for the entire sports activities who’ve missed out within the decreased format,” Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles stated.
“There was all the time a variety of strain on the Commonwealth Video games Federation with lower than two years to go till the Video games in Glasgow and I do know I be part of all our Commonwealth compatriots in saying we hope it is a short-term adjustment to the Video games schedule.
“Now we have a robust relationship with Commonwealth Video games Australia, and we look ahead to working with them and know they may do a incredible job in advocating for a full-strength Video games in future, which incorporates hockey.
“Within the quick time period, I’ll definitely miss seeing the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos on the rostrum. The photographs of our groups in inexperienced and gold singing the nationwide anthem with their medals at each single Video games since hockey’s inception in 1998 stays a proud a part of Australian sporting historical past and our historical past at Hockey Australia.”
The Australian nationwide hockey groups, the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos, have a wealthy Commonwealth Video games legacy combining for 11 gold medals in seven appearances since 1998.
The lads’s nationwide hockey workforce the Kookaburras stay unbeaten on the Commonwealth Video games, having received each version hockey’s featured in. Whereas the Hockeyroos have medalled at each occasion.
Hockey’s coveted 2026 World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands in August stays the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras key focus.
The Kookaburras grew to become the primary non-host nation to qualify for the World Cup after successful the 2023/24 FIH Professional League this yr, whereas the Hockeyroos will compete to qualify for the World Cup at subsequent yr’s FIH Professional League and the Oceania Cup in September.
Hockeyroos on the Commonwealth Video games
Gold – 1998, 2006, 2010, 2014
Silver – 2018, 2022
Bronze – 2002
Kookaburras on the Commonwealth Video games
Gold – 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022