The long-awaited moment has finally arrived, as Ahmedabad has been selected to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. The announcement was made today at the conclusion of the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland.
This is a moment of pride for India and Gujarat. The constant encouragement and vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in strengthening India’s sporting culture, the tireless efforts of Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, and the commitment of Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Harsh Sanghavi have together guided India’s continuous progress in sports. As a result, Ahmedabad has got the privilege to host the 24th Commonwealth Games in the centenary year of the Commonwealth Games.
As the centenary of the Commonwealth Games will be celebrated in 2030, this decision marks a historic moment for India and for the Commonwealth Sports Movement. It represents a tribute to the 100 years of excellence, unity and collective progress among the Commonwealth nations in sports.
It is important to note that under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who has consistently worked to promote India’s sporting culture through ‘Khelo India’ and to discover and nurture talented athletes, India has been honoured with the opportunity to host the Commonwealth Games. Welcoming this development, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah congratulated the citizens of India and mentioned that this achievement is the result of the sustained efforts of the Prime Minister. He added that India, and especially Ahmedabad, has received this honour because of the strong sports infrastructure and the athletes who have been trained and supported to reach global standards.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel stated that this is a moment of pride for Ahmedabad, for Gujarat and for India. He praised the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the efforts of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, and stated that Gujarat will now emerge as the sports capital of the country. He also conveyed that this milestone will further strengthen the vision of Viksit Bharat through Viksit Gujarat.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the Commonwealth Games 2030 in Ahmedabad will showcase India’s development journey and its commitment to using sports as an instrument of national progress. He added that this milestone will strengthen the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and further enhance India’s ability to lead the world in hosting impactful, inclusive and sustainable sporting events.
Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat conveyed that this is a proud moment for the state and for India. Hosting the Commonwealth Games in its centenary year is both an honour and a responsibility, and Gujarat is well prepared to welcome the world with a celebration that reflects the progress, inclusive spirit and hospitality of Ahmedabad and India. The Games will not only highlight the state’s infrastructure and talent but will also represent the values of unity, sustainable development and excellence.
On this occasion, Dr PT Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, mentioned that India is proud of the trust placed in it by Commonwealth Sport. The 2030 Games will celebrate the centenary of the Commonwealth Movement while laying the foundation for the next century. She added that this event will unite athletes, communities and cultures from all Commonwealth nations in a spirit of friendship and progress.
Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport, noted that the official selection of Ahmedabad as the host city of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a defining moment for India’s Commonwealth Movement. He stated that as the world’s most populous country, India will bring grandeur, youth, ambition, rich culture and strong sportsmanship to the centenary Games. He added that India’s bid aligns completely with the vision of an inclusive and forward-looking Commonwealth Sport.
Today’s announcement is a moment of immense pride for the entire country, reflecting India’s growing global sports infrastructure and its capability to host major international sporting events. India’s bid, presented with the theme “New Age Games for a New Century”, which reflects inclusiveness and strength, impressed the Commonwealth General Assembly. The theme aligns with the guiding principles of the Commonwealth Sport Games, which emphasise affordability, accessibility, inclusiveness and long-lasting legacy.
2030 Commonwealth Games and Ahmedabad’s plan
Ahmedabad’s Games plan presents a concise, modern and athlete-centric approach. One of Asia’s largest multi-sport development projects, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, will serve as the main hub of the Games. State-of-the-art facilities such as the Gujarat Police Academy in Karai and the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura will further strengthen this foundation. Integrated transport networks, advanced residential facilities and strong digital systems around these complexes will ensure the city’s preparedness by 2023. The Games will also include para-sports and introduce new benchmarks in sustainability through renewable energy-based venues, low-emission transport options and zero-waste management systems, while ensuring full accessibility.
Hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games will be a major milestone in realising the visions of Viksit Bharat@2047 and Viksit Gujarat. It will accelerate Gujarat’s journey towards becoming the sports capital of the country, strengthen urban development and innovation, generate employment, boost tourism and bring positive changes to the lifestyle of citizens across Gujarat.
This vision is reinforced by key national reforms: the National Sports Policy 2025, the National Sports Governance Act 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025. Together, these initiatives have strengthened transparency, governance and athlete welfare in India’s sports ecosystem. The reforms have given strong momentum to India’s bid and deepened confidence in the country’s sporting capabilities.
The Games will be organised through a collaborative effort involving the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat and the Commonwealth Games Association of India (CGA India). The proposal was presented before the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation by Shri Ashwani Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities, Government of Gujarat; Shri Kunal Kharecha, Joint Secretary (Sports), Government of India; and Shri Banchhanidhi Pani, Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Shri Raghuram Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Games Association of India.
The coordinated efforts of these officials, along with the engaging presentation supported by all stakeholders, played a crucial role in Ahmedabad securing the hosting rights. With a commitment to traditional heritage, a spirit of inclusiveness and a shared vision for progress, the centenary Commonwealth Games to be held in Ahmedabad will honour the past, celebrate the present and help shape the future of the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
Ahmedabad to Host the Commonwealth Games: A Phased Journey
India’s journey to securing the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games progressed through a structured and collaborative process with Commonwealth Sport (CS). It began on 9 January 2025, when India received a Letter of Intent invitation from CS. This was followed on 29 January 2025 by a visit from the President and CEO of Commonwealth Sport, who met the leadership in Gujarat to review the state’s initial vision and preparedness.
India formally confirmed its interest on 13 March 2025 by submitting its Letter of Intent. As preparations gathered pace, the first virtual kick-off meeting between India and Commonwealth Sport took place on 29 April 2025, during which the workstreams, documentation expectations and overall timeline were outlined. In May 2025, a specialist consultancy firm was appointed to support the technical development of the bid.
In June 2025, a high-level Indian delegation travelled to London and worked closely with Commonwealth Sport officials to strengthen the technical and operational framework of the proposal. This was followed by a visit on 3 August 2025 from a Commonwealth Sport team, which assessed venues, infrastructure, governance systems and Ahmedabad’s overall readiness to host the Games.
On 23 September 2025, India submitted its formal bid presentation, showcasing the vision, capability and preparedness to host the Centenary Edition of the Games. After a detailed evaluation, the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board on 14 October 2025 recommended Ahmedabad as the host city, noting the strength, clarity and professionalism of India’s bid.
The process reached its conclusion on 26 November 2025, when the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly officially confirmed Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. This is truly a historic moment for India, for Gujarat and for the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement.
Edited by Rishab Vm
