Ready infrastructure sealed India’s CWG bid: Commonwealth Sport CEO

Ahmedabad’s ready-made world-class sporting infrastructure played a decisive role in securing the hosting rights for the centenary 2030 CWG, Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir said, adding that the bid perfectly aligned with the governing body’s revamped low-cost hosting model.

India was awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in November last year.

The decision came after Commonwealth Sport, formerly the Commonwealth Games Federation, adopted its “Games Reset” model aimed at making the event more affordable following Australian state Victoria’s withdrawal as host of the 2026 edition because of spiralling costs.

“We were really fortunate having two of our largest members (India and Nigeria) put forward an expression of interest for 2030,” Sadleir told PTI.

“The facilities (in India) were fantastic and the fact that they were up and they were there. So it wasn’t about building facilities. The capital investment from the government to have world-class facilities was absolutely outstanding.

“And I think that the team that they put together in terms of how connected they were and working as one to show how much it meant to them, how much it meant to the government, and the people of India to host the Games.”

Sadleir said India’s passion for the Commonwealth Games also made a strong impression during the evaluation process.

Though not a sporting superpower, India lies fourth in the all-time Commonwealth medal tables behind Australia, England and Canada.

“The Commonwealth Games is really important for the Indian population. It’s been one of our highest-viewed events and, not to undermine anyone, but I know that quite often they think of Commonwealth Games medals in the same kind of stance as they think of Olympic medals.”

India are also bidding to stage the 2036 Olympics.

“They are champions, they are legends and the Commonwealth is so important. So from that perspective, seeing a country that had an aspiration to do both (host the Commonwealth Games and Olympics) is very attractive because it meant that they’re really serious about what they’re doing in sport.”

The 2030 CWG are also expected to showcase India’s traditional sporting heritage, with indigenous disciplines set to feature for the first time.

Kabaddi, kho kho, mallakhamb and yogasana are among the sports under consideration for inclusion in the programme alongside the compulsory disciplines.

Sadleir said giving the Games a local flavour was an important part of the hosting philosophy, while stressing that the sports chosen should also become competitive across the Commonwealth not just in India. “We do think profiling indigenous sports is really important. The programme of sports for the Games must reflect things that are important to all Commonwealth countries, but there also must be a flavour of the host.