Gandhinagar: It is learnt that the Government of Gujarat is seeking to host Commonwealth games in the State. Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi had a day ago visited the national capital and held meetings with British officials. It is now learnt that Shah along with 3 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers of Gujarat government will be visiting London in near future to discuss the possibilities of hosting Commonwealth games. The officials to accompany the ministers are Ashwini Kumar, Banchhanidhi Pani and M Thennarsan.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, 2026. This marks Glasgow’s second time hosting the event, following the 2014 Games. The decision came after Victoria, Australia, withdrew as host due to rising costs. The Games will feature a scaled-down program with 10 sports across four venues, funded in part by a settlement from Victoria and support from Commonwealth Games Australia. The Commonwealth Games are held every four years. The event has been consistently staged since 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to World War II.

Seven nations have expressed interest in hosting either the 2030 or 2034 editions, with five focusing on 2030 (including Canada, India, and Nigeria) and two on 2034 (including New Zealand). The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is evaluating these bids, with a decision expected by late November 2025 during the General Assembly in Glasgow. No specific host city or country has been confirmed for 2030 at this time.

The CGF oversees the selection of host cities through a revamped process launched in January 2025, emphasizing cost reduction, collaboration, and flexibility. Key aspects include:

-Expressions of Interest (EOIs): The CGF invites its 74 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) to submit EOIs for hosting. For 2030, seven nations responded by the March 2025 deadline.

-Co-Creation and Feasibility: Over a five-month period, the CGF collaborates with interested CGAs to assess hosting feasibility, encouraging single-city proposals or co-hosting within or across nations to broaden opportunities.

-Detailed Proposals: Shortlisted candidates submit detailed hosting proposals, which are evaluated by the CGF. The CGF Executive Board then recommends a preferred host to the General Assembly for approval.

-Principles: The new process prioritizes flexibility for hosts to shape the Games, use of existing venues to lower costs, and sustainable delivery to ensure legacy benefits and social impact. This approach was developed after challenges in securing hosts, such as Victoria, Australia’s withdrawal from 2026 due to costs, and aims to make the Games more accessible to smaller nations.

It’s worth noting that India is aiming to host Olympics in 2036 and Ahmedabad city in Gujarat is preparing for the same if India’s bid is accepted.

India had earlier this year taken a major step toward hosting global sporting events by officially submitting an expression of interest to organize the Centenary Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in 2030. The bid, led by Commonwealth Games Association of India President PT Usha, underscored Ahmedabad’s readiness to serve as an exceptional host city.

PT Usha confirmed that the Commonwealth Games Federation has acknowledged receipt of India’s proposal. She highlighted Ahmedabad’s capability to host large-scale events, citing the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final and the recent Coldplay concert as examples of the city’s organizational strength.

The bid gains momentum amid the withdrawal of other potential host cities, such as Singapore and Malaysia, due to financial concerns. With Commonwealth Games Federation President Chris Jenkins’ visit to Gujarat in January 2025, discussions have intensified, positioning Ahmedabad as a strong contender to host the historic 2030 Games.

DeshGujarat