Nigeria and India have formally declared their interest in hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, drawing praise from Commonwealth Sport President Donald Rukare, who described their aspirations as “dynamic and ambitious.”
The centenary edition is expected to carry symbolic weight, but Canada—seen as a sentimental favourite given it staged the first Games in Hamilton in 1930—did not put forward a proposal.
Nigeria is attempting to secure hosting rights for the first time after an unsuccessful bid for the 2014 Games. India, meanwhile, is looking to leverage a potential 2030 win as part of its wider strategy to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad.
Rukare said the organisation had been “inspired by the National Sports Policies” presented by both nations, stressing that the event could play a role in furthering national development goals and creating legacy opportunities for local communities.
The announcement comes as welcome news for the Games, which have faced questions about their future. Scotland’s Glasgow will host a scaled-down 2026 edition after Australia’s Victoria withdrew as host citing spiralling costs.
