CWG Makes India Comeback Bid, Ahmedabad Ready to Host

An Expression of Interest (EOI) has already been submitted. This time, however, the proposed venue is not the national capital. Instead, it is Ahmedabad, bordering the GIFT City.

Now, India must submit its final bid documents before the August 31 deadline.

For the past year, the Centre along with the Gujarat government have been working to secure the Games for India.

After Canada withdrew from the race, India’s chances of winning the bid have become much stronger.

A senior official from the state sports department said that a team led by Commonwealth Sport’s Director of Games, Darren Hall, recently visited Ahmedabad to inspect potential venues and hold meetings with top Gujarat officials.

Later this month, a larger delegation from the Commonwealth Games is also slated to visit Ahmedabad.

According to the official, the host nation will be selected in the last week of November during the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow.

In 2010 the CWG were held in New Delhi.

The IOA has officially submitted the bid naming Ahmedabad as the host city.

The bid aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of hosting the 2036 Olympics, making the 2030 Games a potential strategic stepping stone.

India has a track record of organising major international sporting events. A mega sporting event can significantly boost the economy of that region with a push to infrastructure development, tourism and hospitality, leading to employment generation.

After the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the country hosted the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the Asian Athletics Championships, and multiple Cricket World Cups.

Canada’s exit from the Games due to budget issues has opened the door wider for India.

The 2030 Games would definitely strengthen India’s bid for the 2036 Olympics, which the Prime Minister has highlighted on various international platforms.

What Are the Commonwealth Games?

Held once every four years, the Games bring together countries from the Commonwealth of Nations, comprising most former territories of the British Empire. First held in 1930 as the British Empire Games, the event has gone through several name changes — British Empire Games until 1950, British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1966, and British Commonwealth Games until 1974. Since 1978, it has been officially known as the Commonwealth Games.

The event is overseen by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), which determines the sports program and awards hosting rights. Since 2002, athletes with disabilities have been included as full team members