Seven Nations Declare Interest in Future Commonwealth Games Hosting

Seven nations and territories have expressed an interest in bidding to host a future Commonwealth Games, the organization has announced.

Canada, India and Nigeria will bid for the 2030 Games, with two additional nations also confirming their interest in 2030. New Zealand has signalled its interest in hosting 2034.

“We are thrilled with the incredible interest from around the Commonwealth in hosting the 2030 centennial Commonwealth Games and beyond,” said Commonwealth Sport Chief Executive Officer Katie Sadleir. “We have made significant progress over the last 12 months securing a host for 2026 and a pipeline of potential hosts for 2030 and beyond.”

Commonwealth Sport also identified a set of principles for future Games including increased flexibility to shape the sport program; ‘hosting costs will be significantly reduced from historical Commonwealth Games costs to diversify the hosting pipeline and enable more, new countries and territories to host’ and a commitment to supporting the Para athlete development pathway.

Scotland rescued the 2026 Commonwealth Games that were in jeopardy after Australia’s Victoria state backed out of plans to host the event. Victoria state lawmakers cited escalating costs when they withdrew their commitment last year to host the games, though an inquiry later found the estimates they relied on were overstated.

Glasgow’s scaled-back event next summer will have athletics and swimming along with track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and 3×3 basketball. There will also be integrated para events in six of those sports: Athletics, swimming, track cycling, weightlifting, bowls and basketball.

It will not include rugby sevens, which was invented in Scotland in the 1880s, as part of a 10-sport program in four venues. Other sports that have been dropped include field hockey, triathlon, badminton, Twenty20 cricket, squash, and diving.

The event held every four years was established in 1930 as the British Empire Games and is open to 74 nations and territories. It has been staged in Australia, Canada, England, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. Birmingham hosted the 2022 games.