Will IOA Officially Bid for the Commonwealth Games 2030?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- IOA aims to bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
- Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, and Delhi are potential host cities.
- The final bid proposal is due by August 31.
- India's last hosting of the Commonwealth Games was in 2010.
- Decision on the host city will be made in November.
New Delhi, Aug 13 (NationPress) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has made the significant decision to officially bid for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2030, aiming to bring this grand event back to India after two decades. The bid was sanctioned during the IOA's Special General Meeting held in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The motion to proceed with the bid was introduced by the President and was unanimously approved by all members present, as stated by a senior IOA official who requested anonymity.
The IOA has already submitted an Expression of Interest to host the CWG 2030 and has until August 31 to finalize the bid proposal. The organization is currently engaged in discussions with the International Olympic Committee’s Future Games Commission regarding the potential hosting of the 2036 Summer Olympic Games in Ahmedabad.
However, IOA President PT Usha did not confirm that Ahmedabad would be the host city for CWG 2030, mentioning that both Bhubaneswar and Delhi are also strong contenders due to their excellent facilities. New Delhi previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and has also hosted the Asian Games twice in 1950 and 1982.
“I am pleased that everyone is united on this front. It was a unanimous decision, and we will proceed with our preparations. We cannot definitively state that Ahmedabad will be the host city. Bhubaneswar and Delhi also have outstanding facilities,” PT Usha informed the media following the meeting.
Other countries, including Nigeria, have also shown interest in hosting the multi-sport event in 2030. While Canada initially expressed interest, they withdrew from the competition in June this year.
The final decision on the host nation for the 2030 Commonwealth Games will be made by the General Assembly of Commonwealth Sport in the last week of November in Glasgow.
Meanwhile, officials from Commonwealth Sport, led by Director of Games Darren Hall, recently visited Ahmedabad to assess potential venues and meet with representatives from the Gujarat government. A larger delegation is expected later this month.
The Commonwealth Games, which began as the British Empire Games in 1930, will celebrate its 24th edition in 2030. The last edition took place in Birmingham, UK, in 2022, and the next one is set for Glasgow, Scotland, in 2026.
During the Birmingham 2022 games, India secured a total of 61 medals, comprising 22 gold, 16 silver, and 23 bronze. The country’s best performance was during the 2010 Delhi Games, where India finished second behind Australia with a tally exceeding 100 medals, including 38 gold.
Glasgow will host the 23rd edition of the CWG in 2026, which will be a scaled-down version, omitting several sports like hockey, badminton, wrestling, and shooting.
IOA officials have assured that they will aim to include all major sports in their program.