Africa’s long wait for its first Commonwealth Games and Nigeria’s dream of bringing the centenary Games to Africa for the first time is deferred, as India’s Ahmedabad secures the historic hosting rights.
India has been officially selected to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games (the centenary edition) after defeating Nigeria’s Abuja in a closely contested bidding process.
The Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Commission announced Ahmedabad as its preferred host city, praising its readiness, infrastructure, and experience.
Ahmedabad boasts the world’s largest stadium, the 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, which hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final and strong government backing, making it an appealing choice for the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
In a statement, the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board said the decision reflected India’s “commitment to the values of the Commonwealth” and its capacity to stage a global event that celebrates “the scale and diversity of modern sport.”
“We see the 2030 Games as a powerful opportunity to inspire our youth, strengthen international partnerships, and contribute to a shared future across the Commonwealth,”
– Dr. P. T. Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India.
The final decision will be ratified at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26, 2025, confirming India as host for the second time in 20 years, after successfully staging the 2010 Games in Delhi.
Nigeria’s 2030 Commonwealth Games bid journey
Nigeria’s campaign to host the Games was both historic and heartfelt. If successful, Abuja would have become the first African city to ever host the Commonwealth Games, a symbolic milestone marking 100 years of the competition.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), backed by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the federal government, submitted its bid in March 2025.
President Bola Tinubu personally endorsed the proposal, calling it “Africa’s time.”
“After 100 years of the Commonwealth Games, they have never been hosted on African soil. By bringing the Commonwealth Centenary Games to Nigeria in 2030, you will send a powerful message that every region of the Commonwealth matters; and that Africa is not only part of the story but central to its future,”
— President Bola Tinubu
The Nigerian delegation, led by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade, presented Abuja’s case in London earlier this year.
The bid emphasized inclusivity, culture, and legacy which is a vision of Games that would celebrate African identity while creating jobs and infrastructure.
“It is high time the Commonwealth Games came to Africa. It is also high time the organisers understood that inclusivity simply means taking it all over the world,”
— Bukola Olopade, NSC Director-General
Why India Won the 2030 Commonwealth Games Hosting Rights
India’s victory was built on proven experience, strong infrastructure, and political backing. With the 2010 Games already on record and government guarantees secured early, Ahmedabad emerged as a safe and strategic choice.
The Commonwealth Sport Federation noted in a statement that it “assessed candidate cities against a wide range of criteria” and would “develop a strategy for supporting Nigeria’s hosting ambitions for future Games, including consideration for 2034.”
Ahmedabad’s bid was also seen as part of India’s broader global sporting ambition, which includes a long-term plan to host the Olympic Games.
Africa’s Hosting Dream Wait Continues
For Africa, the loss is symbolic. Despite Nigeria’s strong bid, the continent remains the only one yet to host the Commonwealth Games, even as it prepares to welcome the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026.
Nigeria’s last major multi-sport event was the 2003 All-Africa Games in Abuja, a success often cited as proof of its capability.
Still, the CGF’s acknowledgment of Nigeria’s “hosting ambitions” for 2034 keeps hope alive. While Glasgow prepares to hand over the baton to Ahmedabad, Africa’s wait for its first Commonwealth Games host continues.
The 2030 Commonwealth Games will mark 100 years since the inaugural edition in Hamilton, Canada. The next Games, in Glasgow 2026, will proceed under a new streamlined format with fewer sports, athletes, and venues, a model designed to cut costs and make hosting more accessible.
