India is set to kick off the celebrations for the 100th Commonwealth Games this weekend. The country will officially receive the Commonwealth flag during the closing ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Games on Sunday. This marks the beginning of preparations for Ahmedabad, which will host the 2030 edition.
The Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee reviewed several cities vying to host the Games, focusing on athlete experience, infrastructure, governance, and alignment with Commonwealth principles. Ahmedabad was chosen over Abuja, Nigeria, which also submitted a bid for 2030.
### Upcoming Commonwealth Games
The next Commonwealth Games are scheduled for October 2030 in Ahmedabad. India previously hosted the Games in New Delhi in 2010, achieving its best performance by winning 101 medals, including 38 golds, finishing second overall. The 2010 event marked India’s first occasion crossing the 100-medal milestone at a single Games, surpassing its previous best of 69 medals in Manchester in 2002.
### Handover Ceremony Highlights
The handover ceremony on Sunday will feature three segments. The first will celebrate the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram” and will include a musical collaboration between sitar player Rishabh Rikhiram Sharma and Scottish piper Ross Ainsley. The final act will showcase the rich culture of India, with a special focus on Gujarat.
A significant highlight of the ceremony will be the King’s Baton Relay, a cherished Commonwealth tradition. For the first time, each nation will have its unique baton, designed to reflect its culture. Each baton carries part of a message from King Charles III, and those chosen to carry them have been recognized for their contributions to their communities.
The relay has its roots in Cardiff, dating back to 1958. Leading up to the ceremony, long jumper Murali Sreeshankar participated in a kite-flying event in Glasgow, alongside Scotland’s gold medalist Reuben Ward and members of Team India, marking the transition of the Games from Scotland to India. Inspired by Gujarat’s International Kite Festival, the event featured 30 children flying kites adorned with Indian and Scottish flags through the city center, symbolizing the handover.
