Seven nations declare interest in future Games hosting

Africa, Americas, Asia, and Oceania make up the regions from which the EOIs have been submitted. Canada, India, and Nigeria have already publicly confirmed that they have lodged an EOI for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with two additional nations also confirming their interest in 2030. Two EOIs are focused on the future Games pipeline, including New Zealand who have previously signalled their interest in hosting 2034.

Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir said, “We are thrilled with the incredible interest from around the Commonwealth in hosting the 2030 centennial Commonwealth Games and beyond. This positive response from four of our six regions underlines the importance and significance of the Commonwealth Games and its position as the major multi-sport event in the world sporting calendar alongside the Olympic Games and Paralympics and shows the strength and appeal of our reimagined Games model.

“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. We cannot overstate the hugely significant role Scotland has played in this change, having the foresight, tenacity and innovative thinking to step forward and host the Games in Glasgow in 2026 within an incredibly tight timeframe, building on their legacy of Glasgow 2014.

“Glasgow 2026 will be a bridge to the Games of tomorrow – an important first step in our journey to reimagine and redefine the Games as a truly collaborative, flexible and sustainable model for the future of major events. We are confident that Glasgow’s pioneering example will increase the breadth of countries able to host the Games in the decades ahead. 

“The impact of Glasgow 2026 starts now with this emergence of a strong pipeline of potential future hosts that gives confidence to current and future commercial partners, showcases the strength of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, and demonstrates the power of the Commonwealth Games brand and sport to unite people.

“This pipeline also sends a strong signal to our athlete community that the Commonwealth Games remains a major milestone in the global sporting calendar and will continue to be an event that attracts the very best athletes.”

Commonwealth Sport launched a new collaborative host selection process for the Commonwealth Games in January this year, inviting its 74 Commonwealth Games Associations members (CGAs) to lodge their interest for 2030 and future editions of the Commonwealth Games – giving a deadline of end of March for the submission.

The Commonwealth Sport 2023-2034 ‘Commonwealth United’ Strategic Plan, launched in June 2023, and ‘Games Reset’ allows a move away from a traditional host bidding process, enabling it to be flexible in offering the opportunity to potential hosts to be innovative and work collaboratively through a co-creation process on proposals for delivering the Games, while ensuring that all Commonwealth Sport members can meaningfully participate. 

Commonwealth Sport Director of Games and Assurance Darren Hall said, “Considering the high level of interest in hosting future Commonwealth Games in 2030 and beyond, we will now discuss each submission further and work with each interested Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) and its regional representatives as part of a co-creation and collaboration phase to establish hosting feasibility.

“During this next five-month period, candidates moving forward in the process will ultimately be required to provide a detailed Games Proposal to Commonwealth Sport. This will be followed by a Commonwealth Sport-led evaluation process culminating in our Executive Board recommending a host to the Membership for approval at the General Assembly in late November 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Commonwealth Sport has identified a set of principles forming the new framework to create a modern, flexible Games blueprint for the future, including:

• Host nations will have increased flexibility to shape the Games and ensure legacy benefit for local communities. Commonwealth Sport, host members and host Government and community will work together to co-create the event and associated legacy benefits and social return on investment.
• 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. This will be achieved through continued delivery optimisation and encouraging the use of existing venues for sport and accommodation, unless additional infrastructure is part of existing national development plans that will happen irrespective of a Games.
• The Games will allow for an innovative, inclusive, and exciting sports programme that aims to inspire and positively contribute to the lives of the people of the Commonwealth by showcasing and celebrating its athletes, delivering impactful sporting moments, bringing value and meaningful benefits to hosts, whilst being attractive to athletes and relevant for all CGAs, International Federations and wider stakeholders. 
• The Games will maintain full commitment to providing a level playing field for Para and non-Para sport and supporting the Para athlete development pathway.