Despite the sport of surfing being one of the Gold Coasts biggest attractions, this week it has been ruled out as an exhibition sport in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Local surfers were stoked earlier this month when mutterings began about surfing being included in the games as an ‘exhibition sport’.

Run in addition to the other 18 sports already included in the games, exhibition sports in the past have included Rugby 9’s, Lacrosse and a range of other sports.

Designed to bring awareness to the sports in a bid for future inclusion in the games, the practice has slowly been phased out of the program in recent years, confirmed by a statement from Commonwealth Games Federation president Prince Imran of Malaysia, who was on the Gold Coast this week:

"We really don't have exhibition sports anymore within the games. It's already much, much bigger than it ever was and putting in exhibition sports would be difficult."

Some of the sports currently being competed in at the Commonwealth games are: Lawn Bowls, Squash, Table Tennis and Badminton, as well as a brand new sport for 2018, Womens Rugby 7’s. While that list isn’t exactly awe inspiring to us surfers, it is after all, an event of tradition.

Surfing will be included in part of the cultural activities surrounding the event, but since Prince Imran put his foot down, Surfing is definitely out of the Commonwealth Games.

One day, will we be cheering on our favourite surfers, kiteboarders and stand up paddlers in the Commonwealth games? Probably not, but at least we gave it a shot!

The 2018 Commonwealth Games are being held on the Gold Coast, in Queensland Australia. Hosting more than 6500 athletes from 70 nations, the Gold Coast promises that 2018 will be a year where anything is possible.

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