Ready infrastructure sealed India's 2030 CWG bid, fits our revamped hosting model: Commonwealth Sport CEO

Ahmedabad's ready-made world-class sporting infrastructure played a decisive role in securing the hosting rights for the centenary 2030 CWG, Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir said, adding that the bid perfectly aligned with the governing body's revamped low-cost hosting model.

India was awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in November last year.

The decision came after Commonwealth Sport, formerly the Commonwealth Games Federation, adopted its "Games Reset" model aimed at making the event more affordable following Australian state Victoria's withdrawal as host of the 2026 edition because of spiralling costs.

"We were really fortunate to have two of our largest members (India and Nigeria) put forward an expression of interest for 2030," Sadleir told PTI.

"The facilities [in India] were fantastic, and the fact that they were up and they were there. So it wasn't about building facilities. The capital investment from the government to have world-class facilities was absolutely outstanding.

"And I think that the team that they put together in terms of how connected they were and working as one to show how much it meant to them, how much it meant to the government, and the people of India to host the Games," Sadleir said. India's passion for the Commonwealth Games also made a strong impression during the evaluation process.

Though not a sporting superpower, India lies fourth in the all-time Commonwealth medal tables behind Australia, England and Canada.

"The Commonwealth Games are really important for the Indian population. It's been one of our highest-viewed events and, not to undermine anyone, but I know that quite often they think of Commonwealth Games medals in the same kind of stance as they think of Olympic medals." India are also bidding to stage the 2036 Olympics.

"They are champions, they are legends, and the Commonwealth is so important. So from that perspective, seeing a country that had an aspiration to do both [host the Commonwealth Games and Olympics] is very attractive because it meant that they're really serious about what they're doing in sport." The 2030 CWG are also expected to showcase India's traditional sporting heritage, with indigenous disciplines set to feature for the first time.

Kabaddi, kho kho, mallakhamb and yogasana are among the sports under consideration for inclusion in the programme alongside the compulsory disciplines.

Sadleir said giving the Games a local flavour was an important part of the hosting philosophy, while stressing that the sports chosen should also become competitive across the Commonwealth not just in India.

"We do think profiling indigenous sports is really important. The programme of sports for the Games must reflect things that are important to all Commonwealth countries, but there also must be a flavour of the host.

"There are several sports that they're looking at in terms of additional sports, so there's a bit of work to be done in that area," Sadleir said.

"One of the commitments that we would be looking to see is how the Commonwealth get up to speed as quickly as possible in those sports? "We would be working with the international federations once they're chosen to work out a programme of bringing other countries into understanding how the sport works, because we can't just have them being competed in by India." The 2030 edition will mark India's second time as host after New Delhi staged the Games in 2010, an event that was marred in the build-up by allegations of corruption and delays in infrastructure but was ultimately hailed for its successful conduct.

Asked whether those concerns featured during the bid process, Sadleir said the focus was firmly on present-day India and its sporting transformation.

"Well, first of all, it's been 20 years since the 2010 Games. I have been incredibly fortunate that I've been out to India four times over the last 18 months and have seen the changes that have happened in sport.

"I wasn't at the 2010 Games but the commitment and the passion of the people in India are at the highest level.

"I spoke at a conference last year where India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of sport and how important hosting things like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics is, and using sport to actually transform people's lives in India.

"So I have absolute belief that they're putting together a fantastic team to make sure that these Games are a fantastic celebration of our 100 years."