Sad News For Judo, Archery

It will be sad news for judokas and archers as their sports have not been included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme in Victoria, Australia, while the sport of shooting will make its return after being left out of the 2022 Commonwealth Games programme.

Judo, was previously excluded in the 2018 edition in the Gold Coast but was selected by Birmingham 2022 for inclusion in the Games programme, while archery has only appeared twice before at the Commonwealth Games.

In 2002, Judoka Nacanieli Takayawa won Fiji's second ever gold medal at a Commonwealth Games withfellow judoka Sisilia Nasigawinning a bronze medal.

Meanwhile, shooting will make a comeback at the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme since its inclusion in 1966.  It wasnot held in the 2022 edition in Birmingham.

The Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia has unveiled the full Sport Program for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, featuring 20 sports and 26 disciplines, including nine fully integrated Para sports.

Basektball3x3 and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball, Shooting Para Sport, Mountain Bike Cross Country, Track Cycling and Para Cycling Track have been added to the already impressive sports line-up, while Coastal Rowing, Golf and BMX will make a Commonwealth Games debut.

Victoria 2026 is also proposing to add in Para disciplines in Golf, Coastal Rowing and the Road Race and will work with the Commonwealth Games Federation and relevant international sporting federations to determine if this is possible.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin said it was an exciting line-up.

"I am quite sure when the athletes around the Commonwealth heard this announcement – what was going to happen and the sports that were in – they were jumping up and down with this."

It is estimated the Games will contribute more than $3 billion to Victoria’s economy, creating more than 600 fulltime equivalent jobs before the Games, 3,900 jobs during the Games and a further 3,000 jobs beyond the Closing Ceremony.

As the Commonwealth Games Association of Fiji, The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) has included Victoria 2026 in its long-term plan building up to the 2032 Olympic Games to be held in Brisbane, a “Home Games” for the Oceania region.

Amassing 23 Commonwealth Games medals since its debut appearance in 1938, Team Fiji will be looking to add more medals, especially in the individual sports in 2026.

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