The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport has approved its recommendation to select Ahmedabad, India, as the proposed host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games’ 24th edition will be the first multi-sport event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the inaugural games in Ontario.
Commonwealth Sports stated that Ahmedabad has now been confirmed for full Commonwealth Sport membership, and a final decision will be made at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on 26 November 2025.
If Ahmedabad is chosen, it will become the second Indian city after New Delhi to host the Commonwealth Games.
The Commonwealth Games are being held in India as part of its wider vision to host the Olympic Games in 2036. Meanwhile, Nigeria had also placed a bid to host CWG in 2030.
The recommendation is based on a lengthy assessment process that was managed by the Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee, which evaluated applicant cities based on a broad spectrum of criteria, such as technical delivery, athlete experience, infrastructure, governance, and alignment to Commonwealth Sport values.
Based on the principles of the ‘Games Reset,’ which is the strategy of the organization that encourages innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration.
Cities like Abuja, Nigeria, and Ahmedabad put forward very strong bids that showed the ambition and the rising strength of the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
The anticipated participation of 72 countries and territories in 2030 is expected to generate employment, enhance tourism, and open professional opportunities well beyond sports.
India will also be considering hosting an all-inclusive Commonwealth Games, reintroducing several medal events that were dropped in the 2026 Games.
Some of the major events dropped in the Games, including Hockey, cricket, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, diving, rugby sevens, beach volleyball, mountain biking, squash, and rhythmic gymnastics, were also major events in the 2026 Games.
Further supporting Nigeria in hosting the Commonwealth Games
Notably, the Executive Board recognized the impressive submission of Nigeria and decided to prepare a strategic roadmap to assist and speed up the process of hosting Nigeria in future Commonwealth Games with a view to including the 2034 games.
This action underscores the fact that Commonwealth sport is dedicated to ensuring the Games pipeline is fixed long-term and that it is prepared to host the Commonwealth Games in Africa.
According to PT Usha, the President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, the hosting of the Centenary Games would be a defining moment for India.
She added that “It would be an extraordinary honour for India to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Amdavad. 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.”
Interim President of Commonwealth Sport, Dr Donald Rukare, extended gratitude towards the two countries, India and Nigeria, for their vision and commitment.
He stated, “We are grateful to both India and Nigeria for the vision and commitment they have shown in developing proposals to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Both proposals were inspiring, reflecting the scale of opportunity within our Commonwealth family. The Executive Board has carefully considered the Evaluation Committee’s findings and is recommending Amdavad to our membership. This is a significant milestone for the Movement as we look to our Centenary Games, and we now look ahead to the General Assembly in Glasgow, where our members will make the final decision.”
He further added that “The Board was impressed with the vision and ambition of Nigeria’s proposal and was 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.”
India remains the most populous Commonwealth country and has an esteemed sporting history, and a glorious Commonwealth Games history with a fourth-place finish in the medal table at Birmingham 2022.
The proposal of Ahmedabad underlines the dedication of India to the shared values of the Commonwealth as well as the ability of the country to host a Games that incorporates the diversity, energy, and scale of modern sport.
Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Sport, Katie Sadleir, said, “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.”
