Glasgow hosts Amdavad Experience Centre ahead of 2...

By Rohan Gupta — 30 July 2026 — 4 min read

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi inaugurated the Amdavad Experience Center in Glasgow, Scotland, showcasing Ahmedabad’s heritage, culture, and sporting ambitions. This event precedes the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which Ahmedabad is set to host. The inauguration took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Sanghavi was joined by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P T Usha and other Scottish dignitaries at the centre. The exhibition highlights Ahmedabad’s history, its status as a Unesco World Heritage City, sports infrastructure, hospitality, and Gujarati cuisine. The centre aims to offer visitors a preview of what athletes and spectators can expect in 2030.

Ahmedabad’s preparations and cultural showcase

Harsh Sanghavi described Ahmedabad as a city where history and modernity coexist, offering a blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and world-class sports infrastructure. He extended an invitation to people in and around Glasgow to visit the centre and experience the culture, flavours, and spirit of Gujarat before the Games arrive in Ahmedabad.

A video shared by Sanghavi featured garba and dandiya performances with local residents and international participants, illustrating how the event united people through traditional Gujarati dance forms. This cultural exchange underscores the preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Earlier, an Indian delegation was in Glasgow to study the operational aspects of organising a multi-sport event. Officials involved in various facets of the 2030 Games gained first-hand experience from the ongoing event, as preparations for the centenary Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad continue to advance.

Sanghavi noted that the Ahmedabad Experience Centre would host sports federations and athletes from various countries, providing an opportunity to showcase Ahmedabad’s infrastructure and the facilities developed in Gujarat and India. Small interactive sessions were also organised for representatives from international federations and athletes.

Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond

The Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the significance of the 2030 Commonwealth Games for India, calling it a matter of pride that the Commonwealth’s centenary event will be held in Ahmedabad. He also mentioned plans to organise several other international tournaments in Ahmedabad, highlighting the city’s role in delivering a historic sporting event.

In April, Sanghavi held discussions with officials from Commonwealth Sport during a delegation’s visit to Gujarat. This visit reviewed infrastructure plans and preparations following Ahmedabad’s confirmation as the host city. The delegation, led by Commonwealth Sport President Dr. Donald Rukare, met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar and inspected proposed competition venues.

The 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad are anticipated to strengthen India’s sporting infrastructure and support the country’s ambitions to host the 2036 Olympic Games. Dr. Donald Rukare extended an invitation to the Gujarat Chief Minister to attend the ongoing Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

In Glasgow, Reuben Ward, a Glasgow 2026 gold medallist from Team Scotland, and Murali Sreeshankar, a silver medallist from Team India, joined representatives from Commonwealth Sport and Team India to look forward to the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad. This anticipation comes ahead of the official handover ceremony.

Inspired by Amdavad’s annual kite festival, 30 children from the local community group Glasgow Indians Association flew kites adorned with Scottish and Indian flags through the streets of Glasgow. The kites were flown along John Street, near the City Chambers, a significant location for the current Games.

The kite festival, a central part of Gujarat’s cultural calendar, draws master kite flyers, makers, and spectators globally, with thousands of kites filling the sky. PT Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, expressed that seeing children in Glasgow fly kites for India was a special moment, offering a glimpse of the welcome Amdavad will provide in 2030.

Reuben Ward, a gymnast from Scotland, expressed his hope to represent Team Scotland again in India in four years. Murali Sreeshankar, India’s long jump silver medallist, conveyed his excitement about the Games moving to his home country, noting the local community’s support for the Games and athletes in Glasgow.

Commonwealth Sport President Dr Donald Rukare stated that this moment looks ahead to Amdavad 2030 and the ambition to build a lasting legacy for the Commonwealth Games. He added that with Amdavad and the Malta 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games on the horizon, the Movement has a bright future.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com