India to Host 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games — Ahmedabad Recommended

Updated 2 hours ago · Recommendation to be ratified at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on 26 November 2025

The Commonwealth Sport Executive Board has recommended Ahmedabad (Amdavad), India, as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games. The decision — if ratified by members on 26 November — will bring the Games back to India for the second time in 20 years and mark the 100th anniversary of the inaugural Games in Hamilton, Canada (1930).

Why Ahmedabad won the nod

Ahmedabad's bid stood out thanks to a combination of existing world-class venues, logistical readiness and a vision that aligned with Commonwealth Sport’s reset principles — a drive towards a leaner, sustainable Games with fewer venues and lower cost. A focal point of the city's pitch is the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium with a capacity of around 132,000, which notably hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.

“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,” said Dr P T Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India.

What Commonwealth Sport said?

Commonwealth Sport said the Evaluation Committee assessed candidate cities across technical delivery, athlete experience, infrastructure, governance and alignment with Commonwealth values. The Executive Board recommended Ahmedabad and also announced a strategy to support Nigeria’s hosting ambitions — including potential consideration for 2034 — so that Africa's wait to host a Games can be addressed in the future.

“We are grateful to both India and Nigeria for the vision and commitment they have shown... The Executive Board has carefully considered the Evaluation Committee’s findings and is recommending Amdavad to our membership,” said Dr Donald Rukare, Interim President of Commonwealth Sport.

Why this matters — revival after uncertainty

Not long ago, concerns about cost and hostability left the future of the Commonwealth Games in doubt. A reimagined, slimmer Games model has helped revive interest — and Ahmedabad’s recommendation will likely be seen as vindication for the reset approach. Glasgow 2026 stepping in after Victoria withdrew, and Birmingham 2022 hosting after Durban pulled out, both signalled a need for innovation; Ahmedabad’s bid now offers a high-profile platform for the Centenary event.

Nigeria's response and the African question

Abuja’s bid was robust and widely praised, but the Evaluation Committee ultimately tilted towards Ahmedabad. Nigeria’s sporting leadership has pledged to continue building its hosting credentials, and Commonwealth Sport has committed to help accelerate Nigeria’s plans — keeping the possibility of an African Games host alive for future editions.

“While we are disappointed not to have been recommended as host for 2030, we are proud of our proposal… We look forward to working with Commonwealth Sport to continue developing our hosting ambitions, including consideration for 2034,” said Shehu Dikko, Chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission.

What it means for India — and the Olympics 2036 dream

Hosting the Centenary Games would reinforce India’s global sporting credentials and strengthen its long-term bids for events such as the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Indian officials link the Games to the broader national development agenda (Viksit Bharat 2047) and hope the event will catalyse grassroots sport, infrastructure legacy and international partnerships.

Past Commonwealth Games — recent hosts

The table below lists the most recent editions and the proposed 2030 host (recommended):

Year	Host City	Country / Territory
2010	Delhi	India
2014	Glasgow	Scotland (UK)
2018	Gold Coast	Australia
2022	Birmingham	England (UK)
2026	Glasgow	Scotland (UK)
2030	Ahmedabad (Amdavad)	India (recommended)

Key timeline & next steps

• 15 Oct 2025: Commonwealth Sport Executive Board recommends Ahmedabad (Amdavad) for 2030.
• 26 Nov 2025: Final ratification expected at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow.
• Post-ratification: Detailed planning, sports programme and legacy projects to be announced; Commonwealth Sport indicates willingness to expand the sports programme for 2030 as interest grows.

References

• Commonwealth Sport — Executive Board recommendation and statement (October 2025)
• Press releases from Commonwealth Games Association of India (Dr P T Usha)
• Statements from Dr Donald Rukare, Interim President, Commonwealth Sport
• Public comments by Katie Sadleir, CEO, Commonwealth Sport
• Coverage of Narendra Modi Stadium and Ahmedabad event history (public event records)

For attribution and direct quotes, please refer to Commonwealth Sport press statements and official national sports commission releases.

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