India has reportedly won the bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with the city of Ahmedabad chosen ahead of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, Afrosport reports.
The event will mark the centenary of the Games and the second time in 20 years that India will stage the competition.
The Commonwealth Sport evaluation commission selected Ahmedabad as the preferred host, with the decision expected to be approved at the general assembly in Glasgow on 26 November.
Ahmedabad, located in western India, is home to the world’s largest sports arena — the Narendra Modi Stadium — which seats 132,000 spectators and hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. The city, with over five million residents, has also been tipped as a potential future Olympic bidder.
“We see the 2030 Games as a powerful opportunity to inspire our youth, strengthen international partnerships and contribute to a shared future across the Commonwealth,” said Dr. P T Usha, president of Commonwealth Games Association India.
The last time India hosted the Games was in Delhi in 2010. For Nigeria, it is another disappointment after Abuja previously lost out to Glasgow for the 2014 edition.
This ends concerns that Glasgow 2026 could be the final Games, following a series of hosting withdrawals. Victoria pulled out of 2026 over financial issues, with Glasgow stepping in, while Birmingham replaced Durban for 2022.
A new, leaner format featuring fewer sports and venues has helped make hosting more affordable, encouraging bids from India, Nigeria and others.
In a statement, Commonwealth Sport said it “assessed candidate cities against a wide range of criteria” and would “develop a strategy to support Nigeria’s hosting ambitions for future Games, including potential consideration for 2034.”
The 2030 Games will mark 100 years since the first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.
