The Indian city of Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, has been recommended as the host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board said on Wednesday.
The board said it will propose Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, to the full Commonwealth Sport membership for approval at the General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, welcomed the decision, calling it “a huge moment for Indian sports” and said it reflected India’s growing prominence in global sport. “This decision also supports India’s ambitions to host the 2036 Olympic Games,” he said.
The recommendation follows an evaluation process of candidate cities. Both Ahmedabad and Abuja, Nigeria, had submitted bids.
The 2030 Games are set to commemorate 100 years since the inaugural event in Hamilton, Canada. The north American country was expected to be in the running but did not bid.
India, which first hosted the Games in Delhi in 2010, pledged an event reflecting the Commonwealth’s diversity and scale. The 2022 Games was shifted to Birmingham after the South African city of Durban withdrew due to financial issues.
The board also said it would continue working with Nigeria to help realise its ambition of hosting future Games, including potential consideration for 2034.
The bid is a boost for the multi-sport event after fears Glasgow 2026 might be the last edition.
The Scottish city will host a pared-down version of the Games next year after the Australian state of Victoria, the original host, pulled out citing escalating costs.
“Today’s recommendation is strategically important for the future of the Commonwealth Sport Movement. It builds on the platform that Glasgow 2026 will provide and sets a clear direction for the years ahead,” Katie Sadleir, Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Sport said in a statement.
(Reuters)