Scotland hosted the Games for the fourth time after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew, and Glasgow 2026 promised a reimagined Games, which they delivered in style with 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories competing in 215 medal events across 10 sports.

Amdavad is the largest city in the state of Gujarat and at a press briefing marking the transition, Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Harsh Sanghavi said they embraced the responsibility of staging what will be the Centenary Games with deep gratitude.

“It is a big responsibility, but we are ready,” said Sanghavi, who was joined by Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary at the Department of Sport.

“We will learn from Glasgow’s excellence and carry those learnings forward.

“Amdavad is compact, well connected and vibrant with possibility. We have integrated transport systems, modern accommodation and our venues are clustered to minimise travel and maximise a great experience.

“When you come to Amdavad you do not simply enter a host city, you enter a home.

“We will continue to work with the Glasgow team who have always supported us and shown us how to make a Games happen in a short time.”

The programme for Amdavad has yet to be finalised with Sanghavi mentioning cricket as one of the possible sports to be included but he promised the Para sport programme would be one of the best ever.

Katie Sadleir, CEO of Commonwealth Sport which signs off on the programme, said the Games was likely to feature “15 to 17” sports and would be “exciting and dynamic”.

For India, hosting the Games is a step towards becoming a leading destination for major sporting events.

“Amdavad is a significant milestone,” said Sanghavi.

“India is committed to establishing itself as a sporting capital of a global state.

“We aspire to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, and the Commonwealth Games is an opportunity to demonstrate India’s readiness to deliver world-class sporting events for athletes, for spectators and for the entire world.”

Glasgow 2026 CEO Phil Batty - who was at the briefing alongside Sadleir and Dr Donald Rukare, President of Commonwealth Sport - said the Games had welcomed 434,000 ticketed spectators across the 11 days of competition.

He insisted Glasgow 2026 had strengthened the Games and changed its future direction.

“Not only are these Games relevant, they matter,” Batty said.

“As we me move forward into 2030 and beyond, we have created a belief among 74 nations that every single nation could and should host the Commonwealth Games.

“The Commonwealth Games, wherever it is hosted, should look and feel different and celebrate the identity, the character, the infrastructure, the communities and people of whichever nation is hosting.

“And with this new more flexible, sustainable, smarter, more inclusive approach to delivering a major sporting event, you will see every edition of the Games over the next 40 years with a different feel, dynamic and character.”