Nigeria and India have formally submitted bids to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, Commonwealth Sport confirmed on Monday.
The bids, lodged ahead of the August 31 deadline, inject fresh momentum into the future of the Games. Canada, which hosted the inaugural Games in Hamilton in 1930, was expected to enter but pulled out.
Commonwealth Sport President Donald Rukare welcomed the two bids:
“This positive response from two sporting powerhouse nations demonstrates the continued significance of the Games and the strength of our reimagined, sustainable model.”
India’s bid is tied to its broader sporting ambitions, including a push to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad.
Both Nigeria and India were praised for their “dynamic and ambitious spirit” during the Games’ dialogue phase.
The twin bids come at a critical time for the movement, which has struggled with costs and withdrawals. Australia’s Victoria pulled out of hosting the 2026 Games, leaving Glasgow to step in with a scaled-down version, while Durban lost its 2022 hosting rights to Birmingham over financial troubles.
The decision on the 2030 host is expected to be keenly watched as the Games mark 100 years.