 "India's Ahmedabad set to host 2030 Commonwealth Games, final decision in November")
Ahmedabad was on Wednesday recommended as the proposed host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games by Commonwealth Sport’s Executive Board and a final decision will be taken on November 26 at the body’s General Assembly.
The board said it will propose Ahmedabad in the western Indian state of Gujarat, to the full Commonwealth Sport membership for approval at the General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.
The recommendation follows an evaluation process of candidate cities. Both Ahmedabad and Abuja, Nigeria, had submitted bids.
The 2030 Games are set to commemorate 100 years since the inaugural event in Hamilton, Canada. The north American country was expected to be in the running but did not bid.
India, which first hosted the Games in Delhi in 2010, pledged an event reflecting the Commonwealth’s diversity and scale. The 2022 Games was shifted to Birmingham after the South African city of Durban withdrew due to financial issues.
The board also said it would continue working with Nigeria to help realise its ambition of hosting future Games, including potential consideration for 2034.
Interim President of Commonwealth Sport Dr Donald Rukare said the Executive Board found proposals from both India and Nigeria “inspiring” but ultimately chose Ahmedabad for 2030.
“The Executive Board has carefully considered the Evaluation Committee’s findings and is recommending Amdavad to our membership…and we now look ahead to the General Assembly in Glasgow where our members will make the final decision,” he said.
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More Shorts“The Board were impressed with the vision and ambition of Nigeria’s proposal and were united in our commitment to continue working with their team to explore future hosting opportunities. This decision reflects our determination to take the Commonwealth Games to the African continent,” he added.
Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha, who is also the head of the Commonwealth Games Association (India), said it would be an “extraordinary honour” for India to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games.
“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.
“We see the 2030 Games as a powerful opportunity to inspire our youth, strengthen international partnerships and contribute to a shared future across the Commonwealth,” she stated.
Ahmedabad had recently hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships and the city’s sporting infrastructure is also being upgraded to successfully conduct big-ticket multi-sport competitions.
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave is one of the prime venues that is currently under construction and apart from the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, it is designed to house an aquatics centre and a football stadium along with two arenas for indoor sports.
The 2026 CWG, which will be held in Glasgow, has been massively scaled down to prevent the budget from overshooting. The city, which intends to conduct the entire event within an eight-mile (approx 12km) radius, has kept the budget at a modest 114 million pounds (over Rs 1300 crore).
As a result, some major disciplines like wrestling, shooting, badminton and hockey have been left out of the 10-sport roster.
However, the IOA has made it clear that the 2030 Games will have an elaborate programme featuring all the disciplines that have been dropped by Glasgow.
“The plan is to have all our medal-earning sports like shooting, archery, wrestling etc. Our traditional sports like kabaddi, and kho kho should also be there,” IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey had said after an IOA SGM in Delhi in August.
India had spent close to Rs 70,000 crore to host the 2010 edition of the Games, far exceeding the initial estimate of Rs 1600 crore. Athletes from 72 countries participate in the Commonwealth Games.
Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Sport, said she expects the Games to be relevant in athlete development going forward.
“Today’s recommendation is strategically important for the future of the Commonwealth Sport Movement. It builds on the platform that Glasgow 2026 will provide and sets a clear direction for the years ahead.
“The Centenary Games in 2030 offer an opportunity not just to celebrate 100 years of history, but to demonstrate how the Commonwealth Games can continue to evolve, creating meaningful impact for athletes, communities and nations across the Commonwealth,” she said.
With inputs from agencies
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