On Tuesday, CS chief Donald Rukare confirmed that India and Nigeria have submitted formal proposals to host the centenary edition of the Games in 2030. “This positive response from two sporting powerhouse nations of the Commonwealth demonstrates the continued significance and legacy potential of the Commonwealth Games and the strength and appeal of our reimagined, sustainable Games model,” he said in a statement.

“I would like to thank the Commonwealth Games Associations (CGA) of India and Nigeria and their respective Governments for the dynamic and ambitious spirit in which they have engaged in the collaborative dialogue phase,” he said. “The 2030 Evaluation Commission now has the important and difficult task of reviewing and evaluating the proposals and recommending a host to the Executive Board and ultimately, the 74 nation and territory members of the Commonwealth Sport Movement.”

The evaluation committee is chaired by CS vice president Sandra Osborne QC, who also serves as the sports committee chair and president of the Barbados Commonwealth Games Association and Olympic Committee. The other members are Helen Phillips, CS Executive Board member and regional vice president for Europe, Brendan Williams, CS Athletes’ Advisory Commission Chair, Ian Reid, vice chair, Glasgow 2026 Organising Company and Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Andrew Ryan, former executive director, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and Darren Hall, CS director of Games & Assurance (non-voting).