Ahmedabad’s confirmation as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games marks a turning point not just for the event itself, but for India’s broader narrative of national capability. The Commonwealth Games have spent the better part of a decade wrestling with existential uncertainty. High withdrawal rates, inflated budgets, and shifting sporting priorities had cast doubt on whether the institution could survive into its next century. That the centenary edition will now be staged in India ~ unanimously approved and welcomed with remarkable enthusiasm ~ suggests that the Games have rediscovered a compelling purpose, and that Ahmedabad has emerged at the right moment with the right proposition. What distinguishes India’s approach is not merely scale but integration.

The city’s bid leans heavily on existing facilities and urban infrastructure, signalling a shift away from the grand, financially heavy model that has plagued........

© The Statesman