Glasgow, 03 August (H.S.): The 2026 Commonwealth Games concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony in Glasgow in the early hours of Monday (IST), bringing the 11-day sporting extravaganza to an end. With the ceremony, India officially assumed hosting responsibilities for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Ahmedabad.

During the closing ceremony, the Commonwealth Flag was formally handed over to India, marking the official beginning of the countdown to Ahmedabad 2030.

The ceremony, held at Glasgow's Hydro Arena, featured the formal transfer of hosting duties from Scotland to India. The Commonwealth Flag was presented to India in the presence of two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha.

Following the flag handover, India unveiled a captivating preview of Ahmedabad 2030 to a global audience. Renowned singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, along with former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, led a vibrant cultural showcase celebrating India's rich heritage. The presentation opened with Vande Mataram and continued with colourful performances highlighting India's diverse cultural traditions under the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family).

A special audio-visual presentation then showcased India's sporting journey and offered a glimpse of preparations for the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. The presentation highlighted the country's world-class sports infrastructure, growing sporting strength and long-term vision for hosting the landmark event.

Earlier, during the athletes' parade, Indian boxer Jasmine Lamboria, who won a gold medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, proudly led the Indian contingent carrying the national flag. Athletes representing all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories participated in the parade.

The closing ceremony also featured a performance of Born to Try by renowned Australian singer Delta Goodrem. Thousands of volunteers who contributed to the successful organisation of the Games were honoured for their service. Scottish performers Sandy Thom, Elephant Sessions and Primal Scream entertained the audience, while a special video presentation revisited memorable moments from the 11-day competition.

Addressing the gathering, Glasgow 2026 Organising Committee Chairman George Black congratulated India and said, From Glasgow to Ahmedabad, as we pass this responsibility between two great river cities, we wish you every success in hosting the centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030.

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, then officially declared the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games closed and invited athletes to reunite in Ahmedabad four years later for the historic centenary edition.

The Games proved highly successful for India. The Indian contingent finished fourth in the medals table with a total of 39 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze. Indian athletes delivered impressive performances across boxing, athletics, weightlifting, judo, shooting and para sports, bringing pride to the nation.

With the Commonwealth Flag now in India's hands, global attention shifts to Ahmedabad 2030, where the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games will be staged. For India, hosting the Games represents not only an opportunity to organise a major international sporting event but also a significant platform to showcase its capabilities as an emerging global sporting powerhouse.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar