How India’s chances to host 2030 Commonwealth Games got a boost as Canada’s bid hits a snag

Apart from India and Canada, Nigeria was the third country that had submitted an Expression of Interest to host the 2030 edition, the Commonwealth Sport had said in a statement back in April. However, as per reports in the Nigerian media, the country’s bid — centred around the capital city of Abuja — is yet to ‘take off’. Two other unnamed countries were interested, too, the governing body added without revealing details.

While Canada and Nigeria are still stitching together a competitive bid, India has raced ahead with the preparations for the 2030 CWG, which the country sees as a ‘test event’ for the 2036 Olympic Games. Ahmedabad is the frontrunner to host both Games, with some events likely to take place in other cities as well.

An Indian delegation comprising ministers and bureaucrats from the Gujarat government, the Union Sports Ministry, and the Indian Olympic Association met top Commonwealth Sport leaders in London on June 7.

Following their discussions, it is learnt that the Commonwealth Sport officials will be visiting Ahmedabad in August, days before the August 31 deadline to submit the bid officially. If it happens, it will be the Commonwealth Sport officials’ second visit to Ahmedabad after their first trip in late January.

Canada was seen as a strong contender not just because of its proven track record of hosting big-ticket events but also due to sentimental reasons. Hamilton, Ontario had hosted the first British Empire Games, as they were called back then, in 1930. The Games’ return to the port city in 2030 would have marked the 100th anniversary.

The Ontario government’s decision not to bid for the CWG came days after the Indian visit. According to the Canadian media, the decision was taken following a ‘cost-benefit’ analysis. The Hamilton Spectator reported on Wednesday that there was a ‘pushback against spending big money on the Games.

It further added that to make it less costly, the most recent proposal, which was submitted to the Commonwealth Sport, was to ‘hold the event in multiple provinces at the same time to make use of existing facilities and eliminate many costs’. The opening or closing ceremonies, it added, were likely to be held in Hamilton.

With Ontario no longer interested in hosting the event, it is unclear whether there will be a ‘United Canada’ bid for the 2030 CWG. The province of Alberta, too, had earlier withdrawn from the race, citing cost factors.

While Canada will now have to return to the drawing board to come up with another feasible proposal, if at all there will be one, the Gujarat government had identified the 2030 CWG as one of the key events to gain hosting experience in the country’s bid for the 2036 Olympics.

In August, Ahmedabad will host the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and then the Asian Swimming Championship in October.

The interest from India also comes at a time when the Commonwealth Sport has found few takers to host its flagship event. In 2022, Durban was chosen as the host but the South African city later pulled out citing financial reasons. Birmingham was then named the new host.

Similarly, the Australian state of Victoria surrendered the hosting rights after winning the bid for the 2026 CWG. After a Commonwealth-wide hunt, Glasgow stepped up to rescue the Games. However, unlike the previous editions, Glasgow CWG will only be a 10-sport event with a tight cap on the number of athletes to make it affordable.