2018 CW Games bid team appeals to underdog status

Thursday, 10 November 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sydney Morning Herald: The Sri Lankan city of Hambantota is appealing to the camaraderie of small Commonwealth nations to edge out the Gold Coast’s bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Bid teams from Sri Lanka and the Gold Coast are making their final pitches to Commonwealth Games Federation delegates on the Caribbean island of St Kitts, spending the next few days in formal and informal talks ahead of the weekend’s announcement of the winning bidder.

But while the Gold Coast bid team was buoyed by a CGF review into both cities’ bids in September, the political reality is Hambantota may get the numbers.

The 2018 Games host will be announced on Saturday morning Queensland time, after a vote from the 71 Commonwealth delegates.

Gold Coast 2018 bid chief executive Mark Peters revealed to brisbanetimes.com.au last year the small Sri Lankan port city was a serious threat of winning the bid, due in part to the growing influence of China in many voting Commonwealth countries.

“They have a very strong legacy argument that could go over strongly with some of the African and Caribbean countries,” he said.

And it’s those countries Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee co-chairman Ajith Nivard Cabraal has appealed to ahead of the announcement.

In their pitch to CGF delegates, the Sri Lankan delegation pointed out Australia had already hosted the event four times, in 1938 (Sydney), 1962 (Perth), 1982 (Brisbane) and 2006 (Melbourne).

“We want to share our enthusiasm for these Games and show that other countries can get involved,” Mr Cabraal said.

“The Hambantota 2018 bid will also give huge encouragement to the other 61 nations that have never hosted the Games and may wish to do so.”

Mr Cabraal said a Hambantota Commonwealth Games would ‘‘secure long-term social and economic benefits and drive sustainable development throughout our unified nation”.

“It will make such a difference to the lives of young people in Sri Lanka and deliver a legacy with huge benefits for future generations,’’ he said.

‘‘But it will also be life-changing for our friends throughout the Commonwealth.”

Still, Australian bookmakers are backing the Gold Coast, with Sportsbet.com.au last night offering odds for the southeast Queensland city at $1.50 and Hambantota at $2.50.

‘‘It’s really just a judgment call. We’ve been right through all the news articles and we’re probably a little bit biased,’’ Sportsbet.com.au spokesman Haydn Lane said.

‘‘But, with respect to the Hambantotans, we think the Gold Coast has a far better set-up and therefore are deserved favourites.’’

TAB Sportsbet spokesman Glen Munsie said the Gold Coast were overwhelming favourites at $1.30, with Hambantota trailing at $3.40.

Mr Munsie said TAB Sportsbet was unable to offer this bet type under the terms of their licence in New South Wales and Victoria, but provided the indicative market to brisbanetimes.com.au for promotional purposes.

‘‘Political instability combined with the organisational problems that plagued the last time a Commonwealth Games was held in an Asian city (Delhi 2010) means the Sri Lankan delegates will have a tough task to convince Commonwealth Games organiser to go with them,’’ he said.