Ahmedabad, India: India has won the bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG), marking a historic moment for the nation's sporting ambitions. The announcement was made at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in Glasgow on Wednesday, with Ahmedabad officially declared as the host city.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight, stating, "Delighted that India has won the bid to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030! Congratulations to the people of India and the sporting ecosystem". He further added, "With the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we are eager to be celebrating these historic games with great enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming the world!".
The 2030 Commonwealth Games will mark the centenary of the event, commemorating 100 years since the inaugural games held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930. This will be India's second time hosting the Commonwealth Games, with the first being in Delhi in 2010.
The decision to award the games to Ahmedabad reflects India's growing sporting infrastructure, investment in athlete development, and its ambition to utilize sports as a tool for international visibility and economic opportunity. Dr. Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport, stated, "India brings scale, youth, ambition, rich culture, enormous sporting passion and relevance...We start our next century for the Commonwealth Games in good health".
Ahmedabad has been upgrading its sports infrastructure over the past decade in preparation for hosting major sporting events. Key venues for the 2030 Commonwealth Games include the Narendra Modi Stadium and the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, currently under construction, will host multiple sporting events and serve as the athletes' village, accommodating up to 3,000 people.
The Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee assessed Ahmedabad's readiness based on athlete experience, infrastructure, governance, and alignment with Commonwealth Sport values. In recent months, Ahmedabad has hosted several significant sporting events, including the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships and the Asian Aquatics Championships.
The 2030 Commonwealth Games will feature 15-17 sports, including athletics, swimming, table tennis, and weightlifting. India will have the option to propose up to two additional sports, whether new or traditional. According to IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey, the goal is to include medal-earning sports like shooting, archery, and wrestling, as well as traditional Indian sports like kabaddi and kho kho.
The announcement of Ahmedabad as the host city was met with celebrations and fireworks at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya hailed the day as historic, emphasizing the transformation of India's sports sector under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.
Gujarat Principal Secretary Ashwini Kumar stated that preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are expected to be completed by the end of 2028 or early 2029. He emphasized that facilities would be ready well in advance, aided by the staging of the World Police and Fire Games in October 2029.
Hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games also bolsters India's ambition to host the 2036 Olympics. Securing the hosting rights for the Commonwealth Games is a significant step in India's journey to becoming a global multi-sport hub.
