World Athletics has confirmed a significant and long-term shift in the athletics programme of the Commonwealth Games, announcing that the mile race and the mixed 4x400m relay will become permanent events starting with the 2030 Games in Ahmedabad.
The decision, revealed by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, marks a strategic effort to balance tradition with modernisation while strengthening the Games’ global relevance .
The move builds on changes first introduced at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where both events will make their return. Their confirmation for Ahmedabad 2030 signals that these inclusions are not experimental but foundational, reshaping the identity of Commonwealth athletics going forward.
Reinforcing the Commonwealth Games’ Unique Identity
Unlike the Olympic Games or the World Athletics Championships, the Commonwealth Games has historically carved out a distinctive athletics programme. The permanent inclusion of the mile race, a distance absent from major metric-only championships, reinforces this uniqueness. Coe highlighted the mile’s simplicity and accessibility, noting that four laps of the track are easy for spectators to understand, making it a strong storytelling and broadcast-friendly event.
The mile also carries immense historical significance. It was last contested at the Commonwealth Games in 1966 and is forever linked to the iconic “Miracle Mile” of 1954, when Roger Bannister and John Landy both ran under four minutes in the same race. Its return at the Centenary Games in Ahmedabad is a deliberate nod to the Commonwealth’s sporting heritage, with World Athletics maintaining it as the only non-metric track event for which official world records are still recognised.
Importantly, the mile will now be contested by both men and women, correcting a historical imbalance and aligning tradition with modern standards of gender equity.
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While the mile may appear close to the 1500m on paper, athletes view it as a distinct test. The additional distance demands altered pacing, greater endurance and sharper tactical judgement. The race also starts on a bend rather than a straight, forcing immediate positioning battles and adding unpredictability from the opening metres. This ensures that the mile cannot be treated as a simple extension of standard middle-distance preparation, compelling nations to plan specifically for the event.
Mixed 4x400m Relay: Modern, Inclusive and Dramatic
Alongside tradition, World Athletics is firmly embracing innovation through the mixed 4x400m relay, which has rapidly become one of athletics’ most engaging formats. Featuring two men and two women, the event produces dramatic momentum shifts as athletes of different speeds race each other, often leading to lead changes deep into the final leg .
Initially introduced at the World Relays in 2017, the mixed relay has since earned its place at the World Championships and Olympic Games. To ensure fairness and consistency, World Athletics standardised the running order in 2022 to man–woman–man–woman, a rule that will now be permanently applied at the Commonwealth Games as well.
This standardisation strengthens the event’s legitimacy, allowing records to be properly recognised while maintaining the excitement that has made it popular with both live audiences and digital viewers.
Ahmedabad 2030 and the India Factor
The decision to lock in these events is closely tied to the strategic importance of India as host of the 2030 Centenary Games. World Athletics views India as a market with enormous untapped potential, driven by rising interest in athletics following the global success of athletes like Neeraj Chopra. The mile offers historical narrative appeal, while the mixed relay aligns perfectly with fast-paced, modern sports consumption trends .
Together, they form a complementary promotional package designed to broaden athletics’ footprint in one of the world’s largest sporting markets.
A Lasting Legacy for the Commonwealth Games
By confirming the mile race and mixed 4x400m relay as permanent fixtures, World Athletics has set a new baseline for future Commonwealth Games hosts. The decision ensures programme stability, enhances competitive integrity and reinforces the Games’ role as a platform where heritage and innovation coexist.
As Ahmedabad prepares to host the Centenary edition in 2030, the athletics programme now reflects a clear strategic vision one that honours the past, embraces the present and positions the Commonwealth Games as a uniquely compelling event in the global sporting calendar.
