Ahmedabad’s Sporty Bet on CWG Crown
New Delhi: Ahmedabad, home to the world’s largest stadium and a burgeoning hub for diverse sports, is stepping into the global arena with India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. On August 27, 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports’ proposal to pursue the global event.
The decision includes authorisation to sign the Host Collaboration Agreement, secure guarantees from ministries and authorities, and provide grant-in-aid to the Gujarat government if the bid succeeds. With the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)’s bid dossier deadline set for August 31, 2025, and a final host decision slated for November 2025 in Glasgow, Ahmedabad is showcasing its evolving infrastructure to accommodate athletes, coaches, officials, media, and tourists from 72 nations.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest with a capacity of 132,000, has demonstrated its versatility by hosting the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Final, but Ahmedabad’s sporting infrastructure extends beyond cricket to support a wide range of disciplines. The Sabarmati Sports Complex, located along the Sabarmati Riverfront, provides facilities for athletics, football, and hockey, serving as a key training centre for local and national athletes. The Physical Research Laboratory Ground supports football and volleyball, while the Gujarat University Sports Complex offers venues for basketball, badminton, and table tennis, catering to both competitive and recreational players. The Arena by TransStadia, a multi-purpose venue, has hosted kabaddi, boxing, and football events, including Pro Kabaddi League matches, and is slated to stage the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers in 2026. These facilities, complemented by local gymkhanas and training centres, have solidified Ahmedabad’s growing reputation as a multi-sport hub.
Ahmedabad’s sporting history extends beyond cricket, building a foundation that strengthens its case for the Games. The city hosted the 36th National Games in 2022, a multi-sport event featuring over 7,000 athletes from across India competing in 36 disciplines, marking Gujarat’s first time as host and highlighting Ahmedabad’s capacity for large-scale domestic competitions. In recent years, Ahmedabad has welcomed international events, including the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in 2025, the Asian Aquatics Championship scheduled for September-October 2025, and the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers later in 2025. Ahmedabad has also fostered sports like hockey, with training centres producing athletes who have represented India internationally. This legacy of nurturing talent in hockey, athletics, and other fields underscores a vibrant sporting culture that predates the current bid.
Selected by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on August 13, 2025, after considering Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, Ahmedabad offers world-class stadiums, cutting-edge training facilities, and a passionate sporting environment. The IOA’s endorsement positions the city to deliver a Games that could inspire millions and align with India’s aspirations for the 2036 Olympics. India faces competition from Nigeria, which submitted an expression of interest on March 28, 2025, Canada, and four other nations from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as part of the CGF’s collaborative selection process launched in January 2025. A CGF delegation, led by Director of Games Darren Hall, inspected Ahmedabad’s venues in August 2025, with a larger team expected before the deadline.
Ahmedabad’s preparations reflect its ambition to expand its sporting legacy. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Motera, a 300-acre complex developed by the Gujarat Sports Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited at a cost of 6,000 crore rupees, will serve as the centrepiece. Centred around the Narendra Modi Stadium, it includes plans for 10 new stadiums for sports like gymnastics, skateboarding, softball, and tennis, a football stadium, an aquatics centre, and an 18,000-seat indoor arena, with accommodations for 3,000 athletes. The enclave is set to host the Asian Aquatics Championship in September-October 2025. The Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, built for 850 crore rupees, successfully hosted the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in 2025, offering facilities for aquatics, indoor sports, and community engagement. The Gujarat Police Academy in Karai is being transformed into a sports hub with an athletics stadium, Rugby 7s and football facilities, and an integrated shooting centre. The Sabarmati Riverfront Phase-II, under construction, features a water barrage to support rowing and canoeing, ensuring versatility across disciplines.
Connectivity upgrades include a multimodal transport hub linking Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar, metro and Bus Rapid Transit System expansions, and road-widening projects around Naranpura and Motera. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, with its Gujarat section due by December 2027 and full completion by December 2029, will streamline travel for visitors. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is undergoing a 3,130 crore rupee expansion, including a new terminal to accommodate international traffic. An Athletes’ Village and new hotels near venues are in development, alongside five satellite towns—Kalol, Sanand, Dahegam, Bareja, and Mehmedabad—and a sports-themed corridor from the Sabarmati Multimodal Hub to Koteshwar Metro Station. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is investing 200-250 crore rupees in five new sports complexes to enhance grassroots and multi-sport facilities.
Ahmedabad is demonstrating its capabilities through events like the Asian Weightlifting Championship and Archery Asia Para Cup in 2026, the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers in 2026 at The Arena by TransStadia, and the World Police and Fire Games in 2029 across Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar. The IOA has pledged to include wrestling, shooting, badminton, and hockey in the 2030 program, ensuring inclusivity and supporting India’s medal prospects. If successful, this would be India’s second time hosting the Commonwealth Games, following Delhi in 2010.
The 2030 Games are projected to generate revenue for local businesses, boost tourism, and create jobs in sports science, event management, logistics, broadcast media, IT, communications, and public relations. A Cabinet note stated that hosting the event will foster national pride, offer a shared national experience, and encourage sports as a career, spurring participation at all levels.
With a final host decision anticipated by 2026, Ahmedabad’s existing infrastructure, including the Narendra Modi Stadium, Sabarmati Sports Complex, and The Arena by TransStadia, combined with its history of hosting events like the National Games and recent international championships, positions it to build on a legacy that includes nurturing talent in hockey and athletics while embracing a broader spectrum of global sports.
– global bihari bureau
