Gold Coast and Hambantota confirm candidatures for Commonwealth Games

Australia's Gold Coast and Hambantota in Sri Lanka have been confirmed as the two candidates to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games after they lodged their bid books with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) yesterday (Wednesday).
Neither destination has previously hosted the Games, although Melbourne in Australia hosted the event in 2006. In filing their submissions, both cities said the Games would represent an opportunity to recover from a natural disaster, with Queensland having suffered catastrophic floods through December and January while Hambantota suffered from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
The Gold Coast delegation for the submission to the CGF in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur included Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, Gold Coast Mayor (and Olympian) Ron Clarke and bid chairman Mark Stockwell; while Hambantota's group included Sri Lankan Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamaga.
Hambantota bid committee co-chairman Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who said the countryï¾s Government would invest US$4.1 billion in staging the Games, told AFP "we are serious about the bid" while Stockwell said Australia would spend some $1.8 billion on a new Games village and other facilities for the event.
Members of the Gold Coast bid are not underestimating Hambantota, with Stockwell stating "I am impressed by the Sri Lankan bid. We are in a competition and we will try to beat them."
Australian Commonwealth Games Association Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite echoed Stockwell's sentiments, adding that Hambantota will be "no pushover" for the Gold Coast.
Crosswhite said Sri Lanka's bid presentation to the CGF executive board "spectacular, with lots of dancers", adding "it's very much a government-based bid and underwritten by the government, which is building a future city (the port of Hambantota). The message was that you can trust the Sri Lankan government to deliver, and it was presented by the governor of their reserve bank."
Bid Chief Executive Mark Peters said it would take a great effort to win the Games, adding "our competitor in the bid is serious and it is time for all people on the Gold Coast to understand the importance of the Games to the future of the Gold Coast and get behind the bid."
Australian Commonwealth Games Association Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite echoed Stockwell's sentiments, stating that Hambantota will be "no pushover" for the Gold Coast bid.
Crosswhite said Sri Lanka's bid presentation to the CGF executive board "spectacular, with lots of dancers", adding "it's very much a government-based bid and underwritten by the government, which is building a future city (the port of Hambantota). The message was that you can trust the Sri Lankan government to deliver, and it was presented by the governor of their reserve bank."
Bid Chief Executive Mark Peters said it would take a great effort to win the Games, adding "our competitor in the bid is serious and it is time for all people on the Gold Coast to understand the importance of the Games to the future of the Gold Coast and get behind the bid."
If successful, the Gold Coast will host the games from 4th to 15th April 2018, a move partly calculated to overcome the reluctance of the leading track and field stars to extend their competition seasons into October, a difficulty Delhi experienced last year.
Inspections will take place before a final presentation by the two cities to the CGF general assembly in St Kitts and Nevis on 11th November. CGF members will then vote on the winning bid.
The Indian capital of Delhi staged the 2010 Commonwealth Games while Glasgow in Scotland will host the 2014 edition of the event.