India has officially submitted a bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in the city of Ahmedabad, a strategic move to bolster its credentials for a much larger sporting ambition: hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. The bid proposal was formally presented by a delegation from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the Commonwealth Sport headquarters in London on Friday. This bid has received the crucial backing of the federal government, which has approved the signing of the necessary Host Collaboration Agreement.
IOA Executive Council member Harpal Singh described the bid as a “proud moment” that aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Singh stated that the proposal is more than just a bid to stage an event; it is a “commitment to the Commonwealth family to deliver Games that are athlete-centred, inclusive, sustainable, and future-facing.” The goal is to use the Games to set a new standard for the event’s relevance and impact for the next century.
The bid faces competition from Canada and Nigeria, with the host city for the 2030 Games scheduled to be announced at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow this November. Successfully hosting the Commonwealth Games is seen as a critical step for India, aimed at demonstrating the nation’s organizational capability and strengthening its international credibility ahead of a potential Olympic bid.
The bid comes at a challenging time for the Commonwealth Games, which has struggled to find willing hosts in recent years due to escalating costs. The 2022 edition was moved to Birmingham after Durban, South Africa, withdrew, and the 2026 Games were scaled down and relocated to Glasgow following the withdrawal of the Australian state of Victoria. India’s bid, therefore, represents a significant vote of confidence in the future of the multi-sport event.
