It’s been a long time since India played host to the Commonwealth Games, but the wait could finally be over. Ahmedabad is increasingly becoming that center of this discussion of being the large stage for the 2030 edition. The idea is in the approval stages, but the excitement is present. The city is already looking ready for something big with its increasing sports facilities and development plans.
It has been two decades since India’s last Commonwealth Games bid, and now they are trying to bring them back. India launched its bid for the 2030 Games, and the responsibility for leading the process lies with the Indian Olympic Association. Keep your fingers crossed as the final approval may arrive later this year. For sports fans, it would be so much more than just another tournament, it would mean seeing India on the world stage once again, along with athletes from all over the world. For the host city, it may spell great new beginnings including infrastructure improvements as well as enriching the local economy. The excitement is already building.
Ahmedabad may be just another large city, but it has been determining itself to be a sports hub. With the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave and several other modern facilities already in place, it possesses all the infrastructure to host an event of this type. It has brand new roads, fast public transport options, and growing hotel and hospitality options. In recent years, this has given visitors access to move about and feel at home. The city has plenty of places for expansion as well as the vision to do so if it is successful. All these things make Ahmedabad a lot to encourage it to step onto the global stage confidently.
Gujarat would also be hosting the Games for the first time, so it is special in the way that it reflects positively on the state. It is an opportunity for the state to display its sporting facilities and its culture, zest, and ability to welcome the world.
If Ahmedabad gets the Commonwealth Games in 2030, it will be costly – about ₹16,000 crore. But that isn’t the end of it. Some estimates for returns are somewhere in the block of ₹22,000 – ₹25,000 crore. And I’m not even talking about ticket sales or sponsorships. We’re talking hotels booked, restaurants filled, people entering local shops, and thousands of people getting jobs.
A well-respected economist and CA Yamal Vyas notes that if India gets the right to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the majority of the events will occur in Gujarat (more specifically,
Ahmedabad). As a result, the impact on the economy within the state of Gujarat would include jobs created to run the Games, as well as the economic boost in relation to the infrastructure of the region. According to Vyas, he believes that the economic impact of the events on the state of Gujarat could be that the state’s GDP could grow around 25% more than the GDP rate of growth in those same years of 2028, 2029, and 2030. This could change the face of the city of Ahmedabad, just like Delhi experienced after hosting the 1982 Asian Games.
When we look at past Commonwealth Games, we can see a very clear picture of the finances involved. Birmingham, the most recent host in 2022, spent nearly ₹9,100 crore in total with about
₹14,100 crore in benefits. Gold Coast in 2018 was at about ₹6,100 crore and benefits were above
₹14,000 crore. Glasgow in 2014, spent ₹6,800 crore, and it still came out ahead with about ₹8,700 crore.
These numbers illustrate a similar pattern: the amounts spent are large, but the long-term economic impacts can outweigh the costs. Tourism can spike, local businesses benefit with an increase in customers, and the cities and other stakeholders are often able to franchise better venues, facilities, infrastructure, etc. There is a risk to hosting an event at this scale, but it is the risk that generally has positive outcomes.
India’s case for holding the 2030 Commonwealth Games is strong, and Ahmedabad is the foundation of the case. The city has the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave (SPS) which is envisioned to hold key sports such as aquatics, boxing, gymnastics, kabaddi, and cricket. With Canada out of the running, it has bolstered India’s standing. Director Darren Hall in his recent trip view the venues and facilities in India.
To Livestream the events, however, there are quite a few boxes to check. A primary athletics stadium to host the ceremonies, along with other stadia for hockey, and shooting, where individual facilities can host wrestling and other sports is just the tip of the iceberg. Athletes’ village will be very much needed equipped with dining halls, recreation, and medical facilities among other things, transportation is an equally important box to check, either upgrading existing public transportation systems or constructing limited-use infrastructures, road constructions, airport expansion, and hotel facilities. A doping control lab facility, media center, cybersecurity, and 24/7 live CCTV will only get us part of the way there.
The Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, if decided for 2030, is not just a sporting event but rather a watershed moment for the city and the state. The preparations, investments, and worldwide recognition can create a legacy which will endure long after the last medal is awarded.
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