In a historic announcement, India have secured the hosting rights for the Centenary Commonwealth Games (CWG) in 2030. Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, has been formally announced as the host city for the CWG, marking a historic moment for the Commonwealth Sport Movement. The decision confirms that the world’s most populous nation will stage this landmark edition of the Games. Delegates of the 74 Commonwealth member nations and territories ratified India’s compelling bid, which is centered in the Gujarat city, at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26. The city’s vision aims to build on the foundations laid by Glasgow 2026, enabling India to celebrate the centenary in style.
Ahmedabad to host Commonwealth Games 2030
The confirmation of the CWG 2030 in Amdavad holds broader implications for India's global sporting ambitions. Hosting the CWG is intended to demonstrate the country's commitment and capability to stage the 2036 Olympics, for which India has already submitted a bid with Ahmedabad as the proposed host city.
Moments after Amdavad was announced as the 2030 host city, the General Assembly Hall erupted into a rich cultural performance. Twenty Garba dancers, performing a dance that originated in Gujarat, and 30 Indian dhol drummers surprised delegates, providing a taste of the heritage and pride that athletes and fans can expect from a Games hosted in the Indian state of Gujarat. The performance featured members of Glasgow's Indian community and individuals from other parts of the Commonwealth, symbolising the diversity and unity across the Movement as the journey begins from the Glasgow 2026 Games to the Centenary edition.
The announcement was hailed by Commonwealth Sport President Dr. Donald Rukare, who stated: "India brings scale, youth, ambition, rich culture, enormous sporting passion and relevance, and I'm delighted to report strong interest from a range of nations to host the 2034 Games and beyond. We start our next century for the Commonwealth Games in good health."
The first Commonwealth Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. At the most recent Games in Birmingham, England, in 2022, Australia topped the medal table, followed by England, Canada, India, and New Zealand.