Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate recently sent a letter to Australia's Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey requesting wood chopping be added to Gold Coast 2018 as an exhibition sport to represent the city's history.

But the CGF have said there is no category of "exhibition" event at the Commonwealth Games and that no approach has been made by wood chopping to be included on the official sports programme at Gold Coast 2018, where it would still require the approval of the CGF Sports Committee and Executive Board.

"Of course, there's nothing to stop anyone from holding their own, separate event during the Commonwealth Games, so long as it doesn't interfere with the Games and observes all the relevant laws and safety practices," the CGF head of communications Peter Murphy told insidethegames.

"However the Commonwealth Games Federation has not received any application regarding this activity, and we would point out that there is no category of 'exhibition' event at the Games.

"There is a detailed process to follow for acceptance on the sports programme, which means a sport has to have a representative international federation, and be popular and well-supported across the majority of Commonwealth countries.

"It then has to be approved by the CGF's own Sports Committee and Executive Board.

"In short, it's unlikely we'll be seeing competitive wood-chopping at the Commonwealth Games, but we wish all those concerned the very best."


There has been growing support to get wood chopping at Gold Coast 2018, with Queensland Axemen's Association representative and champion wood chopper Barry Hinze a vocal advocate.

"I think it is a good idea because there are a lot of passionate wood choppers who could get involved," Hinze told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

"Wood chopping has a lot of history on the Coast and is getting more notice overseas now in places like Canada, England and New Zealand."

There are a total of 17 disciplines planned for the 2018 Commonwealth Games with more likely to be added following the approval of the Sports Committee and Executive Board.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]