Daijiworld Media Network – London
London, Sep 2: India is no longer the sole contender in the race to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, as Nigeria has officially submitted its bid before the August 31 deadline, marking a significant development in the competition for hosting rights. This was confirmed by Commonwealth Sport (CS), the global governing body of the Games, on Monday.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had earlier announced its submission of the final bid documents, with Ahmedabad being proposed as the host city. Nigeria’s bid sets up a head-to-head contest between two major Commonwealth sporting nations for the centenary edition of the event.
“India and Nigeria have submitted formal proposals to host the 2030 centenary Commonwealth Games by the deadline of 31 August 2025,” CS stated in an official release. “This follows unprecedented, diverse and wide-ranging Expressions of Interest in hosting the Games in 2030 and beyond.”
Both countries’ proposals will undergo a thorough review by an Evaluation Commission appointed by the CS Executive Board. The process includes in-person presentations by both candidate nations in London later this month.
The Evaluation Commission, chaired by CS Vice President Sandra Osborne, will then submit a detailed report to the CS Executive Board. The Board will recommend the preferred host nation to the 74 member nations and territories, with a final decision expected at the General Assembly in November in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Evaluation Commission includes notable figures such as Helen Phillips (CS Executive Board), Brendan Williams (CS Athletes' Advisory Commission Chair), Ian Reid (Vice Chair, Glasgow 2026 Organising Committee), Andrew Ryan (former ASOIF Executive Director), and Darren Hall (CS Director of Games and Assurance – non-voting).
Earlier, Canada had shown interest in hosting the Games but withdrew its bid due to financial constraints.
Speaking on the occasion, Commonwealth Sport President Donald Rukare said:
“We are delighted to confirm that India and Nigeria have submitted exciting formal proposals to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030. This demonstrates the continued significance of the Commonwealth Games and the appeal of our reimagined, sustainable Games model.”
The bidding process follows CS’s revamped ‘Commonwealth United’ 2023–2034 Strategic Plan and ‘Games Reset’ initiative, introduced in June 2023. This new model emphasizes flexibility, innovation, and collaboration, moving away from the traditional competitive bidding system.
As the world watches, the 2030 Commonwealth Games host will soon be decided—either marking India’s return as host after the 2010 edition in Delhi or heralding Nigeria’s debut as a CWG host.