Ahmedabad, a city in western India, has been selected over Nigeria’s Abuja by an evaluation committee from the Commonwealth Games Federation to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
This is the second time Abuja has been passed over for the Commonwealth Games, having also lost the bid for the 2014 Games to Glasgow.
As a result, Africa’s wait to host the event for the first time will continue.
This will mark India’s second time hosting the Commonwealth Games in 20 years, celebrating the centenary of the event.
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The decision to hold the Games in Ahmedabad is expected to be confirmed at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.
Ahmedabad is home to the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest stadium in the world with a capacity of 132,000, which hosted the Cricket World Cup final in 2023.
With a population exceeding five million, Ahmedabad has also been considered as a potential candidate for future Olympic Games.
President of the Commonwealth Games Association India, Dr. P T Usha, stated on Wednesday that “we view the 2030 Games as a significant opportunity to inspire our youth, strengthen international partnerships, and contribute to a shared future across the Commonwealth.”
India first hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi.
This announcement alleviates concerns that Glasgow 2026 might be the last Commonwealth Games, as Scotland’s largest city stepped in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to financial issues.
Birmingham had previously taken on the 2022 Games after Durban in South Africa withdrew.
However, a revamped format featuring fewer sports, athletes, and venues has reduced costs, encouraging India, Nigeria, and several other nations to express interest in hosting the 74 Commonwealth Sport nations and territories.
A statement from Commonwealth Sport on Wednesday indicated that they “evaluated candidate cities based on a variety of criteria, including technical delivery, athlete experience, infrastructure, governance, and alignment with Commonwealth Sport values.”
They also mentioned that the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board plans to develop a strategy to support Nigeria’s aspirations to host future Games, including consideration for 2034.
The 2030 Games will commemorate the centenary of the inaugural event held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.
