On August 13, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officially approved India's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. At a special meeting, IOA officials said the event would be inclusive, featuring all medal events. The government will cover the entire cost of hosting. Ahmedabad has been proposed as the host city.
India has already submitted an Expression of Interest to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, However, the country still needs to submit its final bid proposals before the deadline on August 31.
"The approval was given unanimously by the General House. We will now move ahead full steam with our preparations," IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey said after the SGM that lasted just over half an hour.
With Canada having pulled out of the race, India's chances of getting the 2030 CWG are now very bright.
India previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in New Delhi. The next edition, in 2026, is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
"The 2030 CWG will be a full-fledged Games. We will have all the sports we are good at and have a chance of winning maximum medals," said Executive Council member Rohit Rajpal, referring to the pruned roster of the 2026 Glasgow edition where major sports like hockey, badminton, wrestling and shooting have been left out citing the cost factor.
"There are three groups of sports. First is core sports of the Commonwealth Games which are always there, then are sports which the host nation can choose and the third one are the additional sports.
"The 2030 will be an inclusive Games and will feature our traditional and indigenous sports also," Rajpal added.
Reportedly, a team of officials from Commonwealth Sport, led by its Director of Games Darren Hall, recently visited Ahmedabad to inspect the venues and met the state government officials. While a bigger delegation of Commonwealth Sport is expected to visit later this month.
When will the hosts of CWG 2030 be confirmed?
The General Assembly of Commonwealth Sport will decide the host country in the last week of November in Glasgow.
"The plan is to have all our medal-earning sports like shooting, archery, wrestling etc. Our traditional sports like kabaddi, and kho kho should also be there," Chaubey concluded.