Commonwealth Games Could Cut Number Of Sports From 17 To 10

A leading Commonwealth Games official said that Games "could be cut from 17 to 10 sports to keep the event alive beyond 2018," according to Chris McLaughlin of the BBC. Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper said that "reducing the number of sports could encourage interest." He said, "We recognize the tough economic times but we have flexibility. If someone wanted to predicate a bid on a theme of 'bring it back to basics,' then they could do so." Ten sports "is the minimum allowed by the Commonwealth Games Federation, with 17 the maximum." Bids to host the '22 showpiece "must be received by March 2015 but official notes of interest must be in by the end of March this year" (BBC, 2/3).