IOA President enthusiastic about India's hosting of Commonwealth Games 2030

NEW DELHI, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha on Thursday expressed her enthusiasm about India's Ahmedabad (Amdabad) being the host for Commonwealth Games 2030.

The 2030 edition will mark the centenary of the Commonwealth Games and is expected to boost India's bid for hosting the 2036 Olympics.

"As an athlete and as IOA President, I had always dreamed of India being the host for the Commonwealth Games. Under the able leadership of our Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, India has bagged the hosting rights of Commonwealth Games 2030! Together We Dream and together we say - Bharat ki Mezbani, Har Dil ki Zubani (India's hosting, on the lips of every heart)!!," Usha wrote on the social media.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday evening announced India's Ahmedabad has been officially confirmed as the host city for the Commonwealth Games 2030 after being approved from the Commonwealth Sport membership at the General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.

"The Commonwealth Sport also confirmed that 15-17 sports will feature at Amdavad 2030. These include athletics and para athletics, swimming and para swimming, table tennis and para table tennis, bowls and para bowls, weightlifting and para powerlifting, artistic gymnastics, netball and boxing," IOC in a statement said.

According to the IOC, the process to finalize the remainder of the program will start next month, and the full line-up will be announced next year.

"The sports under consideration are archery, badminton, 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball, beach volleyball, T20 cricket, cycling, diving, hockey, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, triathlon and para triathlon and wrestling," IOC said. "The hosts can also propose up to two new or traditional sports."

Ahmedabad and Nigeria's Abuja had both submitted bids to host the 2030 edition of the Commonwealth Games.

India previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010, staging the event in New Delhi.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed delight about India winning the bid.

"Delighted that India has won the bid to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030! Congratulations to the people of India and the sporting ecosystem. It is our collective commitment and spirit of sportsmanship that has placed India firmly on the global sporting map," Modi wrote on social media. ■