CWG blueprint: AI, renewables, legacy assets are key points

Ahmedabad: Industry experts on Monday gathered at the Commonwealth Connect Forum organized at the Veer Savarkar Stadium in Naranpura to draft a roadmap for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the city's 2036 Olympic ambitions. The summit focused on transforming the centenary edition of the CWG into a catalyst for long-term economic growth, rather than just a fleeting sporting event.Manoj Ladwa, chairman of the India Global Forum, opened the discussions by highlighting Gujarat's massive economic footprint, noting that while the state holds only 5% of India's population, it contributes 8% to its GDP and 20% to its exports. Ladwa emphasized that the 2030 Games should be a ‘growth lever', predicting they will be the most AI-enabled sporting event of the century. "If 2030 leaves only stadiums, we will have underachieved," Ladwa opined, stressing the need for human capital development.
Principal secretary, energy and petrochemicals, Ashwini Kumar committed to 100% renewable power and aiming for Net Zero by 2047. He said Gujarat is following sustainability benchmarks from Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026. "Gujarat leads India with 1.2 million rooftop-solar homes, is a power-surplus exporter, and is doubling the duration battery systems can provide power (from two hours to four hours) to enhance reliability."A West Midlands delegation, led by mayor Richard Parker, provided a blueprint based on the success of Birmingham 2022. Parker revealed that those Games generated £1.2 billion for the UK economy, and created 22,000 jobs, proving that "gritty industrial roots" can deliver world-class events on time and under budget. Birmingham also sold over 1.5 million tickets and reinvested £70 million back into community projects. S Prasanth (sports advisory) KPMG added, "In the Birmingham 2022 Games 75% was funded by the UK govt, and the rest by West Midlands. They generated 1.2 billion." Experts concluded that the success of these Games will be measured by legacy assets — infrastructure like transport and digital grids that serve citizens for decades after the closing ceremony.Shekhar Patel, national president of Credai, noted the city aims to expand its hospitality capacity from 6,000 five-star hotel rooms to 40,000 within five years. "There is an urgent need for a robust service industry. We will also be attracting more people from the US." Sustainability emerged as a non-negotiable pillar for the Ahmedabad games. AMC chief Banchha Nidhi Pani added that "84% of Ahmedabad's current city budget is already dedicated to climate resiliency".