"Absolutely passionate for sports": Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir praises PM Modi's vision as Ahmedabad gears up for 2030 games
Glasgow, July 30
As the spotlight shines on the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, global sports leadership has turned its gaze firmly toward India's ambitious multi-year sporting roadmap, highlighted by Ahmedabad's selection to host the centenary 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Speaking about India's growing stature as an international sports hub, Commonwealth Sport CEO Katie Sadleir lauded the country's long-term major event strategy and recalled her interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting his deep personal commitment to leveraging sports for national health and development.
Reflecting on shared platforms with the Indian leadership, Sadleir noted the distinct national emphasis placed on physical well-being and infrastructural scaling:
"I had the fortune of speaking at an international conference with him [PM Modi], and he talked about his vision for the future in terms of the health of the nation and using sport to significantly uplift the many people that live in India," said Sadleir.
Sadleir also acknowledged India's broader global sporting ambitions, including its proactive bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games and praised the existing domestic sporting infrastructure as "world-class," noting that it will offer an exceptional stage for global athletes and fans alike.
"I think we all know that they are looking to bring the Olympics to India at some stage in the future. They have several other major events in the line-up, both before our event and in their bidding process for 2030. The facilities that already exist there are world-class. So it is going to be incredibly special for athletes, fans, and the world to see the transformation that is going on in India in terms of using sport to reposition India as a global sporting power," she signed off.
To coordinate logistics and review infrastructure preparations for the upcoming 2030 centenary event, India's contingent at the Glasgow CWG features a special administrative delegation headed by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi.
This follows a series of high-level engagements earlier in the year, when a delegation led by Commonwealth Sport President Dr Donald Rukare visited Gujarat to inspect proposed competition venues and meet with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar.
The International Olympic Association (IOA) officially confirmed the award of the 2030 centenary Games to Ahmedabad last November, marking a historic milestone exactly 100 years since the inaugural Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.
With subsequent major event lineups and infrastructure scaling already underway, sports authorities believe the milestone event will heavily reinforce India's transition into a dominant global sporting powerhouse.
The 2030 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad, are expected to play a significant role in strengthening India's sporting infrastructure and bolster the country's ambitions of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
The first Commonwealth Games, in 1930 in Hamilton, featured a small number of countries competing, while the most recent Games, in Birmingham, England, in 2022, were dominated by Australia at the top of the medal table, followed by England, Canada, India, and New Zealand.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive to see India's long-term planning. The 2030 Games and the Olympic bid show real ambition. But I hope the focus isn't just on big events—sustained investment in local sports infrastructure and coaching is what will truly build a sporting culture.
As a Gujarati, I'm thrilled! Ahmedabad already has world-class stadiums like Narendra Modi Stadium. But we need to ensure the benefits reach smaller towns and villages too. Hope the games inspire our youth beyond cricket! 🏏⚽
It's heartening to see international recognition for India's efforts. But let's be honest—our past record with hosting large events has been mixed due to corruption and delays. I hope the execution matches the vision this time. Incremental progress is needed, not just grand promises.
Great to see India on the global sports map! The Commonwealth Games in 2030 and the 2036 Olympic bid could be a game-changer for the country's image. The world is watching, and I'm rooting for India's success. 🙌
"Using sport to uplift the health of the nation"—that's exactly what we need! With rising lifestyle diseases, sports can be a powerful tool. Hope the government also focuses on school-level sports and teacher training. All the best to Team India! 💪
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