This special report examines India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with Ahmedabad recommended as the sole host city. The focus on a single city led to issues of fairness, as the transcript points out, “the focus and concentration of almost every event in the tent on a single city raises serious concerns about regional fairness.” While Ahmedabad has proved its mettle by hosting events like the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, other capable cities like Hyderabad, Delhi and Bhubaneswar feel overlooked. For example, Bhubaneswar has successfully hosted the Hockey World Cup twice. Despite the controversy, the 2010 Commonwealth Games significantly improved Delhi’s infrastructure, strengthening the case for the distribution of major events. With India also seeking to bid for the 2036 Olympics, the debate on equitable development and giving many cities a fair chance to become sports hubs is intensifying.
