Govt. to use CWG bid as catalyst for ‘life-changing development’

Monday, 14 November 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government will continue the large-scale investment set-out in its ‘life-changing’ Hambantota 2018 bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, despite losing out to Australia’s Gold Coast in the crucial vote on the Caribbean island of St Kitts on Friday.

Hambantota 2018 bid leaders congratulated the Gold Coast for winning a “truly sporting contest” and wished them “every success for 2018”.

In what the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) called one of the most exciting contests in its history, Hambantota 2018 was unable to tip the balance in its favour. But for the unified nation and its 20 million people the process of bidding for the Games itself will see history in the making.

Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee Co-Chair Ajith Nivard Cabraal said: “It is disappointing of course that we will not see a Hambantota Games in 2018.

But we have said all along that bidding for these prestigious Games is a key part of an exciting and progressive journey in Sri Lanka. Together we have embarked on a new era. And we will make good our promise to rejuvenate the region regardless of this outcome. We are talking about something transformational; something that will help build a better tomorrow for all our people.”

Cabraal said that their plans had been described by the CGF as ‘visionary, exciting and unique’ and a blueprint for other emerging and developing Commonwealth nations to follow. They will still see Hambantota become one of five metro cities in Sri Lanka – a strategic hub for economic development, tourism growth and regeneration initiatives.

It will be home to a thriving international business and investment centre with a focus on education and sport – the latter being one of the identified growth drivers for the country. The city’s population is forecast to reach 1.2 million by 2018, with some eight million living within 2.5 hours drive.

Sri Lanka’s proud population – some 20 million – had been hoping for a positive decision as the news broke at 03:30 in the morning IST. It follows an electronic vote on the penultimate day of the CGF general assembly in which they hoped the numbers allocated were a sign of the stars aligning.

The fast-developing coastal city in the south of ‘the island jewel of the Indian Ocean’ was #9 – the number of countries to have hosted the Games to-date and to which Hambantota 2018 hoped to add – whilst the Gold Coast was given #4 – the amount of times Australia has itself already hosted the Games.

The decision was announced by outgoing CGF President Mike Fennell at 18:00 local time. It was his last official act as CGF President after 17 years in the role, handing over to HRH Prince Tunku Imran of Malaysia. Fennell had previously said that he felt very happy that the Commonwealth Games had reached a stage where it could attract “two superb bids like these”.

Cabraal said: “I must add that I am proud that the Gold Coast and ourselves have given Mike a candidature contest befitting of his final act as CGF President. Such a strong and exciting contest shows just how far the Commonwealth Games has come under his reign.”