India will host the centenary of the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Sport Executive Council has recommended the city of Ahmedabad to host the competition. India did not get the soon-to-be-confirmed hosting rights by accident; the country has demonstrated a strong history of hosting major international tournaments over the past 10 years.
Under the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made a significant push to bring global sports tournaments to the country, with the ultimate goal of hosting the Summer Olympics in 2036. As the nation moves towards this goal, the political and sports leadership has ensured that India hosts a number of major events that will help build a strong sports infrastructure across the country.
Earlier this year, the World Athletics Continental Tour was held in India for the first time. The prestigious tournament was held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar in August. It constituted a fundamental step for India in its journey to host large-scale multidisciplinary events. And the Continental Tour was far from the first. Since 2014, India has hosted a number of global tournaments, strengthening its credentials and becoming a natural choice for bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
The recommendation that India host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 has given a fresh impetus to its bid to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad.
In July, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) pledged to address doping and governance issues to boost its Olympic bid.
“Recommending India to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030 is a proud milestone in India’s journey as a world sporting power,” India’s IOC member Nita Ambani said in a statement.
“This moment marks another step forward towards our shared dream of bringing the Olympic Games to India.”
Ambani is the founder of the Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries – India’s most valuable company – which also sponsors the IOA.
List of sporting events hosted by India since 2014
- 2014: Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy
- 2016: South Asian Games
- 2016: World Junior Hockey Cup
- 2016: Kabaddi World Cup
- 2017: FIFA U-17 World Cup
- 2017: Asian Athletics Championships
- 2018: World Cup of Hockey
- 2019: World Shooting Championship
- 2022: Chess Olympiad
- 2023: Hockey World Cup
- 2023: Moto GP Bharat
- 2023: Men’s ODI World Cup
- 2025: Intercontinental tour
- 2025: World Para Athletics Championships
- 2025: BWF World Junior Championship
- 2025: Women’s ODI World Cup
Having hosted the Commonwealth Games in Delhi for the first time in 2010, India is committed to hosting an event that reflects the diversity and scope of the Commonwealth. The 2022 edition of the Games was moved to Birmingham after the South African city of Durban withdrew due to financial constraints.
This new offer comes as a boost to the Commonwealth Games at a time when its future looked uncertain. There were fears that the Glasgow 2026 Games could be the last edition.
The Scottish city is set to stage a scaled-down version of the event next year after the Australian state of Victoria, the original host, pulled out citing rising costs.
“Today’s recommendation is strategically important for the future of the Commonwealth sport movement. It builds on the platform that Glasgow 2026 will provide and sets a clear direction for the years ahead,” Katie Sadleir, chief executive of Commonwealth Sport, said in a statement.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
October 16, 2025
