India Eyes 2030 Commonwealth Games Amid Olympic Aspirations

After submitting a Letter of Intent to host the 2036 Olympics last October, India has initiated an informal dialogue with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to host the centenary edition in 2030. This would mark 20 years since the country last hosted the event in 2010. Unlike the previous edition held in New Delhi, Ahmedabad has emerged as the frontrunner, with Bhubaneswar also being considered.

Over the past week, CGF President Chris Jenkins and CEO Katie Sadlier visited multiple Indian cities, meeting with central and state government officials, including ministers and bureaucrats in Gandhinagar, Bhubaneswar, and New Delhi. They also inspected potential venues in Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar.

During the National Games opening ceremony in Dehradun, Jenkins met Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha to discuss India’s potential bid. The IOA, which also governs the Commonwealth Games in India, was informed of a March 31 deadline for submitting an official Expression of Interest (EOI).

In a statement, the CGF confirmed Jenkins’ visit and discussions with Indian officials regarding hosting the 2030 Games. Jenkins spent three days in Ahmedabad, meeting Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and other officials. The state reiterated its ambition to host the 2036 Olympics and other major sporting events leading up to it.

Jenkins and Sadlier toured the Narendra Modi Stadium, the soon-to-be-launched Naranpura Sports Complex, and the EKA Arena. Officials noted that the CGF representatives were impressed by Ahmedabad’s infrastructure, which is being developed on an Olympic scale.

India’s interest in hosting the 2030 CWG aligns with Gujarat’s broader plans to organize international multi-sport events, including the 2027 Women’s Volleyball World Championship, the 2028 Asian Swimming Championship, the 2028 World U20 Athletics Championships, the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship, the South Asian Games, the World Beach Games, and the World Military Games.

The CGF has struggled to find host cities for the Games in recent years. Durban was originally chosen for the 2022 CWG but withdrew due to financial constraints, leading to Birmingham taking over as host. Similarly, Victoria, Australia, pulled out of hosting the 2026 CWG due to rising costs, leaving Glasgow to step in with a scaled-down, 10-sport event.

To address these challenges, the CGF introduced new hosting models, eliminating the need for a dedicated athletes’ village or new venue construction. Indian officials estimate that these changes could reduce costs by almost 60%. Ahmedabad is expected to have the necessary venues ready in the next three to four years, regardless of the 2036 Olympics bid.

Gujarat’s SVP Sports Enclave will house the Narendra Modi Stadium, a multi-purpose indoor arena, and aquatics and tennis centres as permanent venues. Karai will feature an athletics stadium, a shooting complex, and an indoor arena. The entire project is slated for completion by 2028.