Gujarat Advances 2030 Commonwealth Games Bid in London

Gandhinagar, Gujarat — A senior state delegation led by  Harsh Sanghavi, Minister Sports, Government of Gujarat met officials from Commonwealth Sport as part of ongoing efforts to deepen understanding around the Commonwealth Games 2030 bid framework.

Subsequent to the meetings with the Commonwealth Sport team, the delegation met  Catherine West Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and discussed potential areas of collaboration in areas of sports, health and infrastructure. The delegation also invited West to plan a visit to Gujarat to further deepen the collaboration and engagement between UK and Gujarat.

The delegation also held a comprehensive discussion with School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. The delegation discussed 4 specific areas of collaboration with the officials of the University including sports curriculum development from academic perspective with specific emphasis on faculty and student exchange, development of sports coaches, sports events management and podium strategy for specific sports in the State. The delegation also invited the officials to visit Gujarat to study the sports ecosystem and also evaluate the possibility of opening a city campus in Ahmedabad.

The delegation members also visited O2 Arena and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to understand various multi-use options for sports infrastructure facilities including promotion of ‘concert economy’ towards creating economic impact of live music events, including concerts and festivals. The delegation also studies various sustainability features used in design of sports infrastructure at these facilities.

Over two days of focused engagements in London, the Indian delegation participated in comprehensive discussions and presented the preparations undertaken till now with respect to the bid. The Commonwealth Sport team mentioned that the team will provide full support and collaborate with the interested host cities towards preparations of the proposals.

During his remarks, Minister Sports mentioned that ‘We believe that the Games of 2030 should be rooted in sustainability, community participation and above all athlete experience. Athletes are the heart of the Games and every decision we take will be shaped by their comfort, their needs and their performance’.

Emphasizing on importance of legacy for the games, Minister Sports also said that ‘We are designing a model for hosting the Games that focuses on long-term impact rather than short-term spectacle using existing venues wherever possible and ensuring that the Games leave behind a meaningful legacy for local communities.’

During the interactions,  PT Usha, President, Commonwealth Games Association India mentioned that ‘India has a shared belief with Commonwealth Sport that sport has the power to unite nations, inspire youth, and foster social change. India stands ready to partner with the Commonwealth Games Federation to craft a legacy-oriented, future- focused edition of the Games in 2030’.