Media Release

24 January 2018: Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, KAP State Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter, State Member for Hill Shane Knuth and State Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, have joined forces to urge people to sign a petition alongside Normanton based Commonwealth Gold Trap Shooting Medalist Diane Reeves to keep sport shooting in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The petition argues that this will be the first time since 1970 shooting has not featured at the Games.

The BBC reported the exclusion was due to a “lack of appropriate facilities” near to the host city. However, 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 even further away in London (Bisley is 130 miles away from the Birmingham venue, London cycling venue is 135 miles away from the Birmingham venue).

Robbie Katter said he’s disappointed by the news, “It’s extremely disappointing to hear organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games plan to drop the iconic shooting events from the regular program.

“To deny an elite athlete the opportunity to compete in their chosen field is a travesty. Diane is a previous Commonwealth Games gold medal winner and understands first-hand the years of training and sacrifice competitors undertake to achieve success at an international level.

“I will be signing the petition and hope others will also show their support,” Robbie Katter said.

Diane Reeves who won Gold at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games for Trap Shooting said it’s such a big loss to our young aspiring athletes, “All the young aspiring athletes, young shooters, they will miss out on such a great experience and chance to represent our country,” she said.

The petition outlines commentary from the British shooting governing body, British Shooting, who mentions their disappointment that shooting will not appear in the Games. They also confirm appropriate facilities do exist and could be used within the region and are easily accessed via public transport.

Bob Katter said Birmingham should not host the Games at all if they are unable to provide all the sporting events.

“It should be a prerequisite, if you take on the Games you need a venue for everything,” Mr Katter said.

KAP Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, and KAP Member for Hill Shane Knuth have also signed the petition.

The petition currently has more than 41,000 signatures and is aiming to reach 50,000 and can be found at: www.change.org/p/david-grevemberg-include-shooting-in-the-commonwealth-games-birmingham-2022?recruiter=850335630

Or search in change.org: ‘Include shooting in the Commonwealth Games Birmingham’.

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