The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has initiated informal discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) regarding the possibility of hosting the centenary edition of the event, according to a report in Indian Express.
The report further stated that unlike the 2010 edition held in New Delhi, Ahmedabad has emerged as the frontrunner, with Bhubaneswar also being considered. CGF president Chris Jenkins and chief executive Katie Sadlier recently toured India, meeting state and central government officials in Gandhinagar, Bhubaneswar, and New Delhi to assess the feasibility of a bid.
During the National Games opening ceremony in Dehradun, Jenkins held discussions with IOA president P T Usha. The CGF has set a deadline of March 31 for countries to submit an official Expression of Interest (EOI), leaving India with little time to finalise its decision.
Jenkins spent three days in Ahmedabad, where he met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and senior government officials. During these discussions, the state reiterated its long-term vision of hosting the 2036 Olympics and conducting global sporting events in the build-up.
CGF officials inspected key sporting venues, including the Narendra Modi Stadium, the soon-to-be-launched Naranpura Sports Complex, and the EKA Arena. An official involved in the visit said, “They were quite impressed, there are no two ways about it. The preparation here is on an Olympic scale, so there were no concerns over the venues.”
India’s interest in hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games comes at a time when the CGF is struggling to secure hosts. Durban was initially awarded the 2022 Games but later withdrew due to financial constraints, prompting Birmingham to step in. Similarly, Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games, leaving Glasgow to take over, albeit with a reduced 10-sport programme.
To make the event more financially viable, the CGF has introduced new hosting models. Jenkins and Sadlier informed Indian officials that under the revised framework, cities would no longer be required to build a dedicated athletes’ village or new venues. According to estimates, this change could reduce costs by nearly 60 per cent.
“A lot of venues in Ahmedabad will be ready in the next three to four years. These facilities are being developed to foster a sporting culture, regardless of whether India wins the 2036 Olympic bid,” an official said.
