Olympic Overture

Ahmedabad’s selection as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is more than just a sporting milestone for India. It is a strategic wager on our global ambitions, urban future and a firm claim to be taken seriously as a host of mega-events in an era when much of the world is quietly retreating from them. The centenary edition of the Games, which returns to India after two decades, will test not merely our country’s organisational prowess but its political economy of spectacle.

For the Commonwealth movement, the choice of Ahmedabad is itself a statement of survival. The Games have lately looked like a stranded relic of empire, unwanted by most rich countries and unaffordable for many poor ones. Australia’s abrupt withdrawal from the 2026 edition after costs ballooned was a warning that the old model had become unsustainable. Glasgow’s willingness to rescue a stripped-down version of the event next year bought time, not certainty. India’s bid has now provided the clearest lifeline with the scale to absorb costs, the political will to override hesitation and a demographic profile that still believes in the power of sporting nationalism.

For India, the calculation is unmistakable. The 2030 Games are a rehearsal for hosting the 2036 Olympics and Paralympics, again with Ahmedabad as the centrepiece. The Commonwealth Games allow India to demonstrate delivery without fully exposing itself to Olympic-scale risks. If it succeeds, it strengthens a geopolitical argument that India is ready to join the exclusive club of countries capable of staging the world’s biggest civic festival.

The sporting menu itself will be tightly curated. With only 15 to 17 disciplines planned, organisers are aiming for relevance over sprawl. The list under consideration leans heavily towards sports in which India already performs well, from shooting and wrestling to badminton and hockey. The real innovation, though, lies in the openness to traditional disciplines. The possible inclusion of kabaddi and yogasana is as much cultural assertion as competitive logic.

India’s last hosting of the Games, in Delhi in 2010, was a paradox of success and scandal that was admired for its spectacle but marred by corruption, delays and inflated costs. Ahmedabad’s promise rests on learning the right lessons.

The urban implications will be profound. Ahmedabad is already being positioned as India’s next sporting hub, with ambitions that extend beyond a single tournament. If managed well, investment could accelerate public transport, waterfront redevelopment and regional connectivity.

There is also the question of timing. An October window, chosen to coincide with India’s festive calendar, would fuse domestic celebration with international spectacle. That is a politically astute move.

At a time when India is projecting itself as a bridge between blocs and a voice of the Global South, the centenary Games offer soft power dividends. Hosting nations from across the Commonwealth at a moment of geopolitical flux allows India to anchor influence through culture and sport rather than alignment alone.