World Triathlon has confirmed it is pushing for triathlon’s return to the Commonwealth Games, revealing that it has already submitted its formal bid for inclusion at Amdavad 2030.

With the curtain coming down on a short but sweet Glasgow 2026, attention is already turning toward India in four years’ time, when it is hoped that a full programme can once again be accommodated.

While few could argue that the Scottish city has restored some much-needed energy to an event that had looked to have run its last race just three years ago, such a reduced format is sure to be frowned upon when Amdavad (also known as Ahmedabad) takes the reins.

Glasgow forced to sacrifice sports

Left without a host city after Victoria relinquished their responsibilities in the face of mounting costs, there were genuine questions over whether this international gala still had a place in the increasingly crowded global sporting calendar.

By rescuing the seemingly doomed Games, Glasgow has done more than simply deliver 11 days of competition. It has demonstrated a sustainable blueprint for the future – one which has breathed new life into the concept and shown how it can thrive once again.

Its use of existing venues and realistic budgets, rather than spending billions on new infrastructure, has shown that it is possible to host a Commonwealth Games without breaking the bank; the trick now is to make it work with a full schedule.

With the baton handed over to the Amdavad 2030 team, the hope will be that Indian organisers can restore the Games to their past glories and bring back those sports that were sadly sacrificed in Scotland as the emergency hosts were forced to reduce their capacity.

Full schedule expected in 2030

Birmingham 2022 boasted 19 sports on its roster, nine of which were cut by Glasgow, with the likes of badminton, beach volleyball, cricket T20, hockey, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, wrestling and, of course, triathlon all omitted.

Triathlon was first introduced at the Auckland Commonwealth Games as a demonstration sport in 1990 and made its full medal debut in Manchester twelve years later. After inclusion again at Melbourne in 2006, it was left out of Delhi in 2010 due to the lack of a swimming venue.

It returned for Glasgow 2014, together with the introduction of a mixed relay, and saw paratriathlon added four years later on the Gold Coast of Australia.

Having featured in 2022 and originally been included in Victoria’s programme, World Triathlon has made no secret of its desire to return in Amdavad, and this week confirmed to TRI247 that it had submitted its bid for inclusion.

‘Actively working with the Commonwealth Games’

A World Triathlon spokesperson said: “We are actively working with the Commonwealth Games’ future organising committees to bring triathlon back to the programme; we remain hopeful of a return in Ahmedabad in 2030. We’ve submitted a bid and are now waiting on their feedback.”

While the programme for Amdavad has yet to be finalised, the signs are promising, with triathlon remaining part of the Youth Commonwealth Games programme, which is being held in Malta next summer, and Katie Sadleir, CEO of Commonwealth Sport, which has ultimate responsibility for approving the programme, saying the Games were likely to feature “15 to 17” sports and would be “exciting and dynamic”.

‘Exciting’ and ‘dynamic’ are words that could certainly be used to describe triathlon since its medal debut in 2002. The sport has become one of the Commonwealth Games’ most compelling events, with individual and mixed relay racing producing some of the standout moments of recent editions. Indeed, the 2022 men’s podium was graced by three of the biggest names in the sport, with Alex Yee (GBR) taking gold ahead of Hayden Wilde (NZL) and Matt Hauser (AUS).

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 would embrace the responsibility of staging what will be the Centenary Games with deep gratitude.

India also has sights on Olympics

Hinting that cricket was one of the possible sports to be included, he promised the para-sport programme would be one of the best ever as they also geared up to bid for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games – another event for which triathlon has become a regular participant.

Glasgow sacrificed breadth to ensure the Commonwealth Games survived. Few would argue with that decision given the circumstances. But if Amdavad can, as expected, deliver a significantly expanded programme in 2030, there can be little justification for triathlon remaining on the sidelines

World Triathlon has made its case by submitting a formal bid. The decision now rests with Commonwealth Sport and the organisers in India.

Over to you, Amdavad…