It’s been fifteen years since India last held the Commonwealth Games, but the wait looks set to end. Ahmedabad has been named as the proposed host for the 2030 Centenary edition, and at this stage, it’s little more than a formality. The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport has put the city forward, and the final rubber stamp is expected at the General Assembly in Glasgow on the 26th of November next month.
If confirmed, it’ll be India’s first Games since Delhi 2010, when more than 4,000 athletes competed across 272 events. Back then, the event had its share of teething problems and political noise, but there’s a sense that India is eager to show how much it’s changed since. Ahmedabad’s bid, built around the massive new Naranpura Sports Complex and the Narendra Modi Stadium, was seen as the more polished and financially secure option when compared with Nigeria’s ambitious proposal for Abuja.
The recommendation came after months of scrutiny by the Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee, which weighs up technical delivery, infrastructure, athlete experience, and governance. In truth, though, this was a race that always seemed India’s to lose. The sheer scale of the project, coupled with the centenary symbolism of 2030, made it the natural choice.
Dr Donald Rukare, interim president of Commonwealth Sport, called it a “significant milestone” for the movement. His comments hinted at optimism that the event could restore some stability to the Games after a turbulent few years.
That turbulence has been hard to miss. Durban pulled out of hosting the 2022 edition for financial reasons, forcing Birmingham to step in at short notice. Victoria in Australia then withdrew from 2026, leaving Glasgow to pick up the pieces again. The 2026 Games will go ahead but in a much leaner form, with only ten sports on the programme, a scaled-down solution to spiralling costs.
So for many within the Commonwealth, India’s commitment offers a rare bit of certainty. Once the Glasgow vote makes it official, attention will turn to what the centenary event could look like, a single-city Games across Ahmedabad and nearby Gandhinagar, serving as a potential springboard for India’s long term Olympic ambitions.
Eyes on Glasgow 2026
Before the 2030 edition even enters construction mode, the next stop on the Games calendar is Glasgow 2026, where a streamlined programme will still see hundreds of athletes fly the flag for their countries. Among those expected to make headlines is Newry-born Kate O’Connor, who continues to build momentum after her superb 2025 season in the heptathlon. She will make up part of Northern Ireland’s contingent that will head to Scotland, looking to make their mark on what will be one of the most compact Games in history.
For now, though, all roads lead to Glasgow next month, not for competition, but for confirmation. Once the ink dries, Ahmedabad will officially host the Commonwealth Games’ 100th birthday party. And after years of uncertainty, the movement might just have found its footing again.