The two cities competing to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast (Australia) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka), submitted their bids Tuesday during the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) executive committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Australian Commonwealth Games Association President Sam Coffa said he was confident Australia would have an opportunity to become the host for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He said Australians are passionate about sports. “We have the experience in handling the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, so we feel it is the best opportunity to bid for the 2018 in Gold Coast”.
Gold Coast’s bid chairman Mark Stockwell, a former international swimmer, said Australia would spend about A$1.7 billion (US$1.8 billion) for the Games Village and other expenses to ensure a strong Commonwealth Games. He added, “I am impressed by the Sri Lankan bid. We are in a competition and we will try to beat them”.
Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and Co-Chairman of Hambantota’s organizing committee, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, said although his country was not as superb as the Gold Coast, they would prove their differences and determine to surprise the world.
He said, “we are confident we can deliver. This is because we have several new facilities built five years ago and will add more infrastructure by 2016.
“We will invest about 1.15 billion pounds (RM5.6 billion) to build new facilities, including the Games Village, transportation and accommodation as well”.
CGF Vice President Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, who headed the committee during the presentations, said the final decision for the 2018 Games host would be decided during the federation’s general assembly in St. Kitts & Nevis on November 11.
He said, “the candidature files have been formally lodged with the CGF; an extensive evaluation process will get underway beginning with an analysis of the technical aspect of each city’s bid document”.
The final evaluation report will be completed in September. The 20th Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, Scotland July 23 to August 3, 2014.
