New Delhi, Aug 13 (PTI) - The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) made a pivotal move on Wednesday by officially endorsing India's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. This decision unfolded during their Special General Meeting (SGM) in the capital, with high-ranking officials assuring an "inclusive" edition that would feature all "medal-earning" sports. The country has already expressed its interest in hosting the 2030 CWG, nominating Ahmedabad as the potential host city. Nonetheless, India is required to submit its final bid proposal by the impending August 31 deadline. IOA President P T Usha indicated that besides Ahmedabad, potential host cities include the 2010 host Delhi, and Bhubaneswar. "I am happy that all are together and it was a unanimous decision and our preparations will go ahead," remarked Usha, post the concise SGM of about 30 minutes. She further stated, "We can't just tell whether Ahmedabad is the host city. We have good facilities in Bhubaneswar and even in Delhi also." Usha referenced the scaled-down nature of the 2026 Glasgow CWG due to constraints, adding, "If we get 2030 CWG, it will be full-fledged one just like we did in 2010." Notably, major sports, such as hockey, badminton, wrestling, and shooting were omitted from 2026's roster due to budgetary concerns. Canada's withdrawal from the race has seemingly increased India's probability of securing the 2030 CWG. "The plan is to have all our medal-earning sports like shooting, archery, wrestling etc. Our traditional sports like kabaddi, and kho kho should also be there," stated IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey. A team from Commonwealth Sport, led by Director of Games Darren Hall, recently evaluated Ahmedabad's facilities and liaised with Gujarat's authorities. A larger Commonwealth Sport delegation is anticipated later in the month. "The 2030 CWG will be a full-fledged Games. We will have all the sports we are good at and have a chance of winning maximum medals," noted Executive Council member Rohit Rajpal. He elaborated on the categorization of sports: core Commonwealth sports, sports selected by the host nation, and additional sports. "The 2030 will be an inclusive Games and will feature our traditional and indigenous sports also," Rajpal emphasized. In late November, the General Assembly of Commonwealth Sport, convening in Glasgow, will finalize the host country selection. Recalling history, India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The SGM was held shortly after the morning's Executive Council meeting.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)