The race to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games has officially come to an end, with Amdavad (Ahmedabad), India, set to take the spotlight. Although Nigeria missed out on the hosting rights this time, the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board has pledged to actively support and accelerate Nigeria’s ambitions to bring the Games to Africa in the near future — potentially as early as 2034.
This commitment aligns with Commonwealth Sport’s broader strategy to secure a sustainable future for the Games and expand their global footprint, including a long-awaited debut on African soil.
At its latest meeting, the Executive Board confirmed its recommendation for Amdavad to host the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games. If ratified at the General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26, this will mark India’s second time hosting the Games — the first being Delhi 2010.
Amdavad brings a powerful case to the table. The city boasts the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest in the world with a capacity of 132,000, which recently hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. With a population exceeding five million and growing international infrastructure, Amdavad has even been mentioned as a potential future Olympic bidder.
For Nigeria, this marks another near miss. Abuja was previously in contention to host the 2014 Games but ultimately lost out to Glasgow. And with Durban’s withdrawal leading Birmingham to step in for the 2022 edition, Africa’s wait to host the Commonwealth Games continues.
Still, the tone from Commonwealth Sport remains optimistic. In a statement, the organization said it had “assessed candidate cities against a wide range of criteria” and had “agreed to develop a strategy for supporting Nigeria’s hosting ambitions for future Games, including consideration for 2034.”
While India prepares for a landmark 2030 celebration, Nigeria’s hopes are far from over. The next chapter may finally see the Commonwealth Games land on African soil — a milestone long overdue.
