The Gambia withdraw from Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
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The Gambia will no longer be participating in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, taking the number of competing nations and territories to 70.
Confirmation of the move comes just days after the west African nation announced its departure from the Commonwealth, saying it will 'never be a member of any neo-colonial institution'.
Part of the route for the Queen's Baton Relay, set to get under way this week at a ceremony in London, will now be redrawn.
Withdrawal: The Gambia has withdrawn from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
A Glasgow 2014 spokesman said: 'All Commonwealth nations and territories are entitled to compete in the Commonwealth Games.
'Glasgow 2014 has received confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation of the formal withdrawal of The Gambia from the Commonwealth.
'It is our understanding, therefore, that The Gambia does not intend to enter a team and compete in next year's Games.'
The baton relay, which was due to travel to 71 nations and territories in the Commonwealth during its 248-day journey, will no longer visit The Gambia.
The spokesman said: 'The Queen's Baton Relay visits all nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
The west African nation said they didn't want to be part of any 'neo-colonial institution'
'As Gambia has formally withdrawn from the Commonwealth, alternative plans will now be made and the Glasgow 2014 Queen's Baton Relay will not visit The Gambia.
'This planning is now under development in collaboration with the Commonwealth Games Federation and we will provide further information in the near future.'
On Wednesday, the Foreign Office said The Gambia's decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth was something to 'very much regret'.
It was not clear what triggered the decision to leave the association largely made up of former British colonies.
Though a popular destination for British tourists, the country has been criticised in the past by the UK for human rights abuses.
Following Gambia's sudden withdrawal last week from the , the country confirmed today they have withdrawn from the -hosted Commonwealth Games scheduled to take place next year.  This leaves 70 countries and territories competing in the Games.
Countries that competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games 
The country's president  withdrew from the 54-nation Commonwealth with a statement on television Thursday saying, "The general public is hereby informed that the Government of the Gambia has left the Commonwealth of Nations with immediate effect ... The Government has withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth and decided that the Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism."

Yesterday, a spokesperson for the 2014 Games said, "All Commonwealth nations and territories are entitled to compete in the Commonwealth Games. Glasgow 2014 has received confirmation from the Commonwealth Games Federation of the formal withdrawal of The Gambia from the Commonwealth. It is our understanding, therefore, that The Gambia does not intend to enter a team and compete in next year's Games."

Being a member of the Commonwealth is a requirement for participation in the Games, and organizers could not formally withdraw Gambia from the Games until they received confirmation from the .

The organizers are planning to modify the  to remove Gambia.  The relay traditionally involves the baton travelling to all participating countries.

Having participated at every Commonwealth Games since 1970 except the boycotted , the nation has only won one medal, a bronze at the .


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