'Best foot forward, hoping for the best': IOA VP Gagan Narang on India's 2030 CWG bid

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formally backed India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The decision was taken during the IOA’s Executive Committee meeting and a Special General Meeting held on Wednesday. Vice-President and Olympic medallist Gagan Narang expressed optimism about the bid process. “We had an Executive Committee meeting in the morning, followed by the special General Meeting. I think all the important agendas were discussed and passed very smoothly. We are looking forward to putting our best foot forward in terms of the bid and hoping for the best,” Narang told ANI.Proposals are expected to be submitted by August 31, with Commonwealth Sport expected to announce the host city in November. Wednesday’s meeting also addressed the audited accounts for 2023-24 and the appointment of a statutory auditor for 2024-25, alongside the Games bid approval. As per media reports, Ahmedabad has emerged as the likely host city. Preparations for the bid have been in motion for several months. In June, a high-level Gujarat government delegation led by Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi met with Commonwealth Sport officials to understand the framework and requirements for hosting the Games. The delegation included representatives from the Commonwealth Games Association India and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The discussions covered critical elements of a successful bid, including vision and legacy plans, governance standards, sustainability, transport strategy, sports scheduling, accessibility, infrastructure, athlete services, and operational plans for Games time. The IOA’s decision signals India’s intent to align with international best practices and work closely with all stakeholders to strengthen its case for hosting the multi-sport event.