India is finally stepping up on the global sports stage as India is set to host the Commonwealth Games! On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the Executive Board (EB) of Commonwealth Sport endorsed Ahmedabad as the prospective site of the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030. The ultimate decision on this topic is expected to be a formality, even though a news release claimed that it would be taken during the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.
With the support of the Union Cabinet, Ahmedabad, the city selected to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, would likely get a boost in its ambitions to develop world-class sports and urban infrastructure. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave will serve as the main location, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera serving as its anchor. This stadium is the biggest cricket pitch in the world, capable of accommodating more than 100,000 spectators.
Where are the Ahmedabad Commonwealth going to be held?
The recently completed Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura hosted the opening ceremony of the weeklong Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship 2025 on August 24. Approximately 300 weightlifters from 30 Commonwealth states and territories are competing for 144 medals across various age and senior divisions. Participants must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible to compete in the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Constructed at an estimated cost of around ₹850 crore, this facility serves as a multisport hub with an aquatics centre, an indoor multisport arena, a Centre for Sports Excellence, and community sports facilities.
The 300-acre Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave is set to host the Asian Aquatics Championship in September and October. Currently in the planning stages, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave will have ten brand new stadiums that will serve as both permanent and temporary arenas for various sports, including tennis, softball, gymnastics, and skateboarding. Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, the state capital, are constructing a multimodal transport hub that will include Western Railway lines and city bus services. In addition, the SG Highway—which will link places like Ambli, Ghuma, Jodhpur, Shella, and Vejalpur—has a huge sports infrastructure planned on an area of one lakh square meters.
Reports suggest that transforming five nearby cities—Kalol, Sanand, Dahegam, Bareja, and Mehmedabad—into satellite towns will expedite preparations for the massive athletic event. In addition to Naranpura stadium and the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave, a 143-acre plot of land at the Gujarat Police Academy in Karai is also being developed into a sports complex. An athletics stadium, along with a venue for football and Rugby 7s, will be housed there, and there is an integrated shooting centre for both amateur and professional shooters, as well as an indoor multifunctional arena that is planned for weightlifting and other activities.
The Sabarmati riverside, which is now being developed in Phase II, might be transformed into an ideal venue for events like as water sports. He also said that a water barrage is being built on a 2-kilometer-long riverbank, where world-level infrastructure is scheduled to be built. Combat sports facilities are now under development at Ahmedabad's Sanskardham educational institution.
Ahmedabad is preparing to be a global sports host!
Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar will host the World Police and Fire Games in 2029, while Ahmedabad will also host the Asian Weightlifting Championship and the Archery Asia Para Cup in 2026. The AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifications will take place in Ahmedabad's The Arena by TransStadia from November 22–30, 2026. Ahmedabad is not only focusing on venue selection but also planning for transportation and city development. Considering the timeline for the Games, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train route is projected to complete its Gujarat leg by December 2027 and the entire line by December 2029. A new terminal and an extension totaling 3,130 crore rupees are being constructed at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Additionally, the lodging facilities are being expanded. Athletes' Village, complete with accommodation, restaurants, healthcare, and training facilities, will soon be built on designated land. To bring them up to international standards, a number of hotels are being developed or renovated in proximity to important athletic sites. In order for both cities to jointly host the worldwide gaming events, the construction of the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar is being sped up.
Who else is bidding to host the Commonwealth Games 2030?
Both Nigeria and India have submitted bids to host the 2030 Games in accordance with the revised "Games Reset" guidelines. Financial Express reports that the city's candidacy rose to the top of the assessments because of its well-connected transportation networks, future sports facilities, and excellent urban planning.
Indian cities are competing to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, which would undoubtedly enhance our country's reputation as a world-class sports destination. The economy, culture, and tourism will all undoubtedly benefit greatly from the event. Already, plans are afoot for what may turn out. This event aims to be the most unforgettable Commonwealth Games in history.