Ahmedabad has been identified as the frontrunner
India’s push to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games has received a significant boost after Canadian province Ontario dropped out of the bidding process due to financial concerns.
Ontario was part of a potential ‘United Canada’ bid to jointly host the Games with other provinces.
Its decision to withdraw came days after Indian officials met Commonwealth Sport leaders in London to present their case.
The Canadian exit weakens what was seen as India’s most serious competition. Nigeria, the only other declared bidder, has made little visible progress since submitting its Expression of Interest.
The country’s proposed bid centres around Abuja but is yet to “take off”.
India’s campaign, on the other hand, is gathering pace.
Ahmedabad has been identified as the frontrunner to host the Games, with some events possibly shared across other Indian cities.
The bid is also being positioned as a rehearsal for the 2036 Olympic Games, which India hopes to stage.
A senior Indian delegation, including officials from the Gujarat government, the Union Sports Ministry, and the Indian Olympic Association, met top Commonwealth Sport leaders in London on June 7.
Following that meeting, it is understood that officials from Commonwealth Sport will visit Ahmedabad in August, just ahead of the August 31 deadline to submit formal bids.
If confirmed, this would mark their second visit to the city this year, following an earlier trip in January.
Canada had initially appeared to be a sentimental favourite.
Hamilton, Ontario, hosted the inaugural British Empire Games in 1930. A 2030 return would have marked the event’s 100th anniversary. But financial caution ultimately derailed those plans.
According to reports, the Ontario government decided not to proceed with the bid after a “cost-benefit” analysis. The report said there was “pushback against spending big money on the Games”.
To reduce expenses, Canada’s most recent proposal reportedly aimed to split the Games across multiple provinces to use existing facilities and cut costs. Ceremonies were likely to be held in Hamilton.
However, with Alberta having already withdrawn earlier for similar reasons, Ontario’s move casts doubt on whether a multi-province Canadian bid can proceed.
A source said: “With Ontario out, the future of a United Canada bid looks uncertain.”
India, meanwhile, continues to position itself as the most ready and willing host.
Ahmedabad is set to hold the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in August and the Asian Swimming Championship in October. Both events are expected to serve as test runs for hosting large-scale international competitions.
The global appeal of hosting the Commonwealth Games has waned in recent years, largely due to spiralling costs.
Durban was initially awarded the 2022 edition but pulled out due to financial constraints. Birmingham stepped in as a replacement host.
A similar scenario played out for the 2026 Games.
Victoria, Australia won the bid but later withdrew, again citing budget issues. Glasgow eventually stepped in but will host a stripped-back version of the Games, featuring just 10 sports and capped athlete numbers.
With limited contenders and rising doubts over the event’s financial viability, India’s increasingly confident bid could well emerge as the Commonwealth Games’ best hope for 2030.
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