A state delegation led by Harsh Sanghavi, Minister for Sports, Government of Gujarat, held a series of meetings in London aimed at strengthening international collaboration as part of Ahmedabad&rsquo;s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Following initial discussions with the Commonwealth Sport team, the delegation met Catherine West, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Both sides explored potential cooperation in the fields of sports, health and infrastructure. An invitation was extended to West to visit Gujarat in order to advance bilateral engagement further.
The delegation also conducted a detailed interaction with officials from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. Four key areas of collaboration were discussed: the development of sports curriculum with a focus on academic exchange of faculty and students, training of sports coaches, management of sports events, and podium strategy for specific disciplines in Gujarat.&nbsp;
The university officials were invited to Gujarat to examine the local sports ecosystem and to consider establishing a city campus in Ahmedabad.
As part of their visit, the delegation toured the O2 Arena and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to study multi-purpose usage of sports infrastructure. Particular attention was given to the promotion of the &lsquo;concert economy&rsquo; through live music events, concerts and festivals, as well as to the sustainable design practices employed in these facilities.
Earlier, the delegation held meetings with senior officials from Commonwealth Sport as part of its efforts to understand the framework for bidding to host the 2030 Games. The delegation also included representatives from the Commonwealth Games Association of India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The proposal is scheduled to be submitted by August 31, with the final decision on the host city to be announced by Commonwealth Sport in November.
During the London meetings, the Indian delegation shared progress made in preparing the bid. Commonwealth Sport officials assured full support and cooperation for all interested host cities in developing their proposals.
Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
He added, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
PT Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, said, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;
Two days earlier, similar meetings had taken place where both sides exchanged views on elements typically required in a Games bid proposal, including governance frameworks, infrastructure planning, athlete services, sustainability considerations, sports programming, transport strategy and accessibility. The engagement reflected India's intention to align with global best practices and to work closely with relevant stakeholders.
Ahmedabad&rsquo;s Dream to Host Olympics
In a statement in May, it was announced that a high-level delegation from Gujarat would travel to London to engage with the Commonwealth Games Federation. The visit formed part of Gujarat&rsquo;s broader strategy to secure the 2030 Commonwealth Games for Ahmedabad, which is also being positioned as a potential host city for the 2036 Olympics.
A letter of interest confirming Ahmedabad&rsquo;s willingness to host the Games was submitted on March 13 by PT Usha. The visiting team included Principal Secretary Ashwani Kumar, Sports Secretary M Thennarasan, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, a senior official from the Central government, and PT Usha.&nbsp;
The primary objective was to gather key insights to support the Central government in preparing a formal bid document, which must be submitted within the stipulated timeline.
Gujarat is currently being developed as a major sporting hub. At present, 23 district-level and five taluka-level sports complexes are functional, with construction underway for 13 additional district-level and 19 taluka-level facilities, representing a combined investment of Rs 370 crore.
Major infrastructure projects such as the SVP Enclave, Karai Sports Hub, Naranpura Sports Complex and IIT Gandhinagar are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore. These venues will support various sports including aquatics, athletics, boxing, archery, cycling and hockey. Supporting transport infrastructure is also in progress.
In January, Commonwealth Games Federation President Chris Jenkins and CEO Katie Sadleir visited Ahmedabad and met with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to assess the city&rsquo;s preparedness and potential to host the Games.
&nbsp;

Harsh Sanghavi-Led Gujarat Delegation Meets UK Official

Gujarat officials meet UK leaders, universities and sports bodies to boost Ahmedabad's 2030 CWG hosting plans.

Gujarat Delegation Expands UK Ties for 2030 CWG Bid

Gujarat officials meet UK leaders, universities and sports bodies to boost Ahmedabad's 2030 CWG hosting plans.

June 9, 2025 | 19:14 IST

Leave a Comment :