…The decision will be formally ratified at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow next month
India has been chosen to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, bringing the multi-sport event back to the world’s most populous nation for the second time in two decades.
The city of Ahmedabad, located in western India, was selected ahead of Abuja, Nigeria, by an evaluation commission from Commonwealth Sport, the body that oversees the Games.
The decision is expected to be formally ratified at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.
Ahmedabad, home to more than five million people, boasts impressive sporting infrastructure, including the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest sports arena with a seating capacity of 132,000, which famously hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.
Speaking on the landmark announcement, Dr. P.T. Usha, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, said India views the 2030 Games as an opportunity to inspire a new generation of athletes and deepen ties across member nations.
“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,” Dr. Usha said.
India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, when New Delhi staged the event. The 2030 edition will therefore mark a symbolic return, coinciding with the Games’ 100th anniversary.
For Abuja, the decision represents another setback after the Nigerian capital also lost out to Glasgow for the 2014 Games.
The outcome means Africa’s long wait to host the Commonwealth Games continues, despite several bids over the decades.
When confirmed in November, the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad will further cement India’s growing reputation as a global sports destination — and could even strengthen the city’s ambitions to one day host the Olympic Games
