Ahmedabad Set To Host 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games

The executive board of Commonwealth Sport will recommend Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games, it said on Wednesday.

Ahmedabad will now be put forward to full membership and the final call will take place at the board's general assembly in Glasgow on Nov. 26, according to a release by Commonwealth Sport.

The recommendation comes after a comprehensive evaluation process led by the Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee, which assessed bids from Ahmedabad and Abuja, Nigeria. Criteria included technical delivery, athlete experience, infrastructure, governance and alignment with Commonwealth Sport values, it said.

This decision aligns with the movement's new 'Games Reset' principles, which encourage host cities to innovate and collaborate while delivering impactful, sustainable Games. Both India and Nigeria presented compelling and ambitious proposals, reflecting the shared goals of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, it said.

"It would be an extraordinary honour for India to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Amdavad," PT Usha, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, said. "The Games would not only showcase India's world-class sporting and event capabilities, but also play a meaningful role in our national journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047."

The 2030 Games will mark the centenary of the inaugural event held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. India had hosted the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010. The 2026 event will be held in Glasgow.

India boasts a strong sporting pedigree and finished fourth in the medal tally at Birmingham 2022, Commonwealth Sport said. "Amdavad's proposal emphasises India's capability to host world-class sporting events, aligned with its broader national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047."

"The executive board has carefully considered the evaluation committee's findings and is recommending Amdavad to our membership," Donald Rukare, interim president of Commonwealth Sport, said.

Recognising the strength and ambition of Nigeria's bid, the Executive Board has committed to developing a strategy to support Nigeria's future hosting ambitions, as part of a broader initiative to eventually bring the event to Africa.

"Today's recommendation is strategically important for the future of the Commonwealth Sport Movement," said Katie Sadleir CNZM, chief executive officer of Commonwealth Sport. "The Centenary Games in 2030 offer an opportunity not just to celebrate 100 years of history, but to show how the Commonwealth Games can continue to evolve, creating meaningful impact for athletes, communities and nations."