India Prepares for Grand 2030 Commonwealth Games, Aims Hosting 2036 Olympics: Anurag Thakur

New Delhi | 11 March 2026 Anurag Thakur, former Union Sports Minister and BJP Member of Parliament, said on Wednesday that India is gearing up to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games on a large scale while also working towards securing the hosting rights for the 2036 Summer Olympics. The 2030 edition will mark the centenary of the Commonwealth Games, and India plans to celebrate the historic milestone with a major international sporting event. India was officially confirmed as the host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games in November last year. The city of Ahmedabad has been proposed as the main venue for the tournament. According to officials, preparations are expected to follow a model similar to the 2026 Commonwealth Games scheduled in Glasgow. Speaking about the preparations, Thakur said, “The staging of sporting events in India is becoming larger and better than before. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are expected to be organised on a very grand scale, and India is also preparing to host the 2036 Olympics.” He further noted that India is continuously making efforts to strengthen its bid for the Olympic Games. Expressing optimism about the country’s chances, he said, “It is hoped that India will get the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics as well, after which the country will witness a series of major international sporting events one after another.” Officials in Gujarat have already begun preparations, with infrastructure work expected to be completed by the end of 2028 or early 2029. Recalling India’s previous experience with the Commonwealth Games, Thakur referred to the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi. He said that during that period the focus shifted from sports to controversies, stating, “There was a time when the Commonwealth Games were held in India during the UPA government, and at that time the discussion was more about corruption allegations than about the games themselves.” India had finished second in the medal tally in 2010 with 101 medals, while in the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, the country won 61 medals, including 22 gold. India Preparing for 2030 Commonwealth Games, Aims to Host 2036 Olympics: Anurag Thakur Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said that India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games on a large scale while also working to secure the hosting rights for the 2036 Summer Olympics. The 2030 edition will mark 100 years of the Commonwealth Games, and India plans to organise the event in a grand manner. The city of Ahmedabad has been proposed as the main hub for the tournament. Speaking about India’s growing role in international sports events, Thakur said, “The staging of sporting events in India is becoming larger and better than before. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are expected to be organised on a very grand scale, and India is also preparing to host the 2036 Olympics.” He added that the country is making continuous efforts to strengthen its bid for the Olympic Games. Expressing confidence about the future, Thakur said, “It is hoped that India will get the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics as well, after which the country will witness a series of major international sporting events one after another.” Preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are already underway in Gujarat, and officials aim to complete most of the infrastructure work by the end of 2028 or early 2029. Referring to the past, Thakur also spoke about the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi. He said that during that time the focus shifted away from sports due to controversies, stating, “There was a time when the Commonwealth Games were held in India during the UPA government, and at that time the discussion was more about corruption allegations than about the games themselves.”