The organizing team for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India aims to deliver a large-scale event, planning to fill the world's largest stadium and expand the number of sports featured.
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with a capacity of 132,000, has been designated as a venue for the 2030 Games. Rohit Rajpal, India's Chef de Mission, expressed confidence in selling out the stadium, citing India's population of 1.4 billion and a strong appetite for sports and entertainment. He noted recent full-house attendances at events like the Asia Cup volleyball.
India plans to increase the number of sports to 17, with cricket expected to be added to the schedule. Officials hope the scale of the 2030 Games will attract major international stars, addressing concerns about athlete participation that have affected recent events. "We will analyze everything and work out how we can get the best in the world competing in India," Rajpal stated. Cricket, particularly the T20 format, is anticipated to be a highlight, with aspirations to feature prominent Indian cricketers.
The development comes as the Commonwealth Games face questions about its future. Scotland hosted a scaled-down edition in Glasgow, agreeing to host after Australia withdrew due to budget concerns. Despite these challenges, New Zealand and Nigeria have indicated their interest in hosting the Games in 2034. Indian officials are also reportedly using the 2030 Games as a stepping stone for a bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
Indian officials are engaging in knowledge transfer programs with Gujarat to learn from the management of the current Games, aiming to elevate the scale and execution of future events.
Cricket is set to be a significant draw, with ambitions to include top national stars.
