Commonwealth Games 2030: Indian city of Ahmedabad confirmed as host

Ahmedabad has been confirmed as the host of the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

The Indian city had already been selected over a rival bid from Abuja in Nigeria for the sporting event, but final approval was given at the Commonwealth Sports’ general assembly in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Moments after the announcement, 20 Garba dancers and 30 Indian dhol drummers burst into the hall, surprising delegates with a performance.

The news provides some long-term certainty after the Commonwealth Games were rocked in 2023 by the Australian state of Victoria’s decision to withdraw as hosts of next year’s games over rising costs.

Glasgow has since stepped in to host a slimmed-down version of the event.

Durban in South Africa was stripped of hosting rights for the 2022 edition after failing to meet bid commitments, resulting in Birmingham taking over as host.

Delegates from India celebrate Ahmedabad being officially announced as the host city during the 2030 Commonwealth Games Host Announcement / Credit: PA

The Nigerian delegation at the general assembly in Glasgow congratulated India on its successful bid and said it remains determined to become a future host itself.

Commonwealth Sport president Dr Donald Rukare maintains the movement has “turned a positive corner” into a “very solid” future following Ahmedabad’s success.

“When we were in Singapore in ’23, there was a bit of a dark cloud with the situation at that point,” Dr Rukare said at a press conference.

“We were very close to saying, ‘What is the future of the Commonwealth movement, Commonwealth sport?’

“But we are very happy that with the stepping up of Glasgow… that was a game-changer.”

Commonwealth Sport president Dr Donald Rukare. / Credit: PA

He continued, “This was also part of our overall Games reset and refresh strategy, which we had put in place as a board, where we are looking at the Games in a slightly different way.

“We have definitely turned a positive corner, so we stand here looking very, very optimistic that the future of the Games and the movement is very solid and good.

The President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, Dr PT Usha, vowed that the games in 2030 will “lay the foundation for the next century”.

Chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Katie Sadler, believes that Glasgow played an “absolutely vital” role in helping push the movement forward with an “innovative and different” approach to what will be the city’s second time as hosts following the success of 2014.