Ahmedabad confirmed as host of 2030 Commonwealth Games

Ahmedabad was formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games on Wednesday after the Commonwealth Sport membership approved India’s bid at the 2025 General Assembly in Glasgow.

The city, also known as Amdavad in Gujarat, had been recommended in October following an evaluation process of candidate cities. Ahmedabad and Abuja, Nigeria, had both submitted bids.

The 2030 edition will mark 100 years since the inaugural Games held in Hamilton, Canada, which was expected to bid again but ultimately did not enter the race.

India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010. Glasgow will stage a pared-down version next year after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to rising costs.

The 2030 Games will be held in Ahmedabad, a city that has expanded its sports infrastructure significantly over the past decade.

In recent months, it has hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, the Asian Aquatics Championships and the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

Next year, Ahmedabad will stage the Asian Weightlifting Championship and the Asia Para-Archery Cup. In 2029, the World Police and Fire Games will be held across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Ekta Nagar.

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, currently under development, is one of the key venues.

Alongside the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, which has a capacity of over one lakh, the enclave will include an aquatics centre, a football stadium and two indoor arenas.

An athletes’ village with capacity for 3,000 competitors will also be built within the complex.

India promises a full-scale Games

Glasgow’s 2026 edition has been significantly reduced to stay within a budget of 114 million pounds (over Rs 1,300 crore), with the entire event planned within an eight-mile (approx 12km) radius. As a result, wrestling, shooting, badminton and hockey have been excluded from the 10-sport programme. India opposed this reduction, saying it impacted its medal prospects.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has indicated that the 2030 Games will feature a more expansive line-up. “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.

Commonwealth Sport noted India’s “proud sporting history and a strong record of Commonwealth Games success, finishing fourth on the medal table at Birmingham 2022.” It added that “Amdavad’s proposal emphasises India’s commitment to the values of the Commonwealth and its capacity to stage a Games that reflects the scale and diversity of modern sport.”

(With inputs from agencies)