India eyes hosting 2030 Commonwealth Games as it bids for 2036 Olympics

India has submitted an “expression of interest” to stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games, potentially the perfect dress rehearsal for the country’s bigger dream of hosting the Olympic Games six years later. Earlier, India had hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, and the event itself was a grand success.

“We have sent an expression of interest and we are hopeful the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) will consider our proposal”, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha told Press Members on Friday.

India will be optimistic of hoisting the centenary edition of the multi-sports carnival, which was considered to be the gathering of mainly former British colonies, particularly because the Games has struggled to find Willful Organisers in recent times.

It is mention-worthy that Glasgow was confirmed as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Tuesday, the Scottish city stepping in after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew due to cost concerns, with organisers set to deliver a pared-down edition of the multi-sport event. Notably, among the sports to be axed from the programme are badminton, cricket, hockey and rugby sevens. The Games, which will run from July 23 to Aug. 2 in 2026, will feature 10 sports across four venues – athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball.

It will also feature para sports including athletics, swimming, track cycling and wheelchair basketball.

“Glasgow 2026 will have all the drama, passion and joy that we know the Commonwealth Games delivers even if it is to be lighter and leaner than some previous editions”, Commonwealth Games Scotland chief executive Jon Doig said. He further reiterated, “It will be more accessible, delivered on a smaller footprint which brings our fans closer to the sporting action”.

Earlier, Glasgow also hosted the event in 2014 and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Katie Sadleir said the legacy of that edition would provide sporting, transport and accommodation infrastructure, as well as world-class venues and expertise.

The Games were originally slated for Victoria but the state withdrew as host in 2023 due to rising costs. Malaysia briefly considered an offer to stage the event but rejected it in March citing time constraints as well as costs and funding issues.

Glasgow stepped in as a back-up venue in April and the Scottish government backed the bid to host a scaled-down version, with the CGF offering 100 million pounds ($130 million) in supporting funds.

Commonwealth Games Australia has also committed to a multimillion pound investment to help the Glasgow bid.

Five of the previous six editions of the Games were held in Australia or Britain and questions continue to swirl about their relevance, with top athletes often electing to skip them. Canada’s Alberta province last year withdrew its support for a bid for the 2030 Games and the CGF has yet to find a host for the centenary edition of the event.

The 2022 Games was shifted to Birmingham after the South African city of Durban withdrew due to financial problems. Bidders have until March 31 to send expressions of interest for hosting the 2030 edition.

The world’s most populous country is also bidding for the 2036 Olympics, with the city of Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat at the centre of India’s grand plans to stage what is considered the “greatest show on earth”.

Team Maverick