Ready to host CWG 2030 with existing infra, India delegation addresses concerns after 2010 debacle

Narendra Modi Stadium

Amid renewed scrutiny over India’s readiness to host another Commonwealth Games, the country’s delegation asserted that the current infrastructure in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar is sufficient for 2030, with plans to build additional venues as the state eyes a 'sports capital' tag.

Questions arose over the country's preparedness after the controversy during the 2010 edition when a footbridge had collapsed weeks before the games as well as the issue of corruption in awarding contracts.

"Even with existing sports infrastructure facilities that we have in the city of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar ---the twin cities in Gujarat we would be able to host the games," said Ashwini Kumar, Principal Secretary Sports, Gujarat, while addressing a press conference on November 26.

He pointed to the Narendra Modi Stadium, the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, the EKA Arena multi-purpose stadium in Ahmedabad and many more places where India can host some of the events.

In addition, Kumar said that newer infrastructure is being developed for the games.

"Ahmedabad is poised to be the sports capital of India and in that regard we are going to come up with two major sports infrastructure projects. One is the SVP sports enclave which will have an arena and tennis court and at the same time we are also going to come up with a police academy sports hub which will have an athletics stadium, shooting center and arena and high performance center."

He added that both the projects have secured funding from the government. "They are being done by two different arms of the government. The construction is likely to begin by April 2026 and we will be completing it by the end of 2028 or early 2029," he said.

India will also be hosting the World Police and Fire Games in October 2029 which sees participation from more than 9,500 fire and police personnel, Kumar added. "They (participants) come from across the globe, so these facilities will be prepared well in time for the 2030 games," the official said.

Kumar said India will deliver a game which people would remember in years to come. "We are trying to make it a sustainable game financially and otherwise also. We understand the responsibility of also delivering a game which is sustainable which can be taken forward for the next 100 years," he added.

Kumar also gave an indication regarding the schedule of 2030 CWG, hinting at October.

"We have not yet formally announced the month in which we are going to hold the games but October is the preferred season of the year. Ahmedabad is a city of festivities. People celebrate life in a big way and we have a nine day long Navratri-Garba festival followed by 20 days of a gap and then there are Diwali celebrations. We have some window between the two festivals," he said.