Hambantota confident as 2018 Commonwealth Games Vote countdown begins

Saturday, 22 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka may be halfway through the first Test with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi but back home it is an altogether different assessment of the country’s sporting credentials that has its proud population feeling anxious.

Fans long fanatical about cricket and now passionate about a wide range of other sports are eyeing another test on the ‘island jewel of the Indian Ocean’s’ horizon.

The tear-drop shaped nation will soon learn if its Hambantota 2018 bid to host the Commonwealth Games seven years from now has been successful.

It is now just 22 days until the host city is announced at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) general assembly in St Kitts & Nevis on 11 November.

That’s one day for every yard in length of a cricket pitch; and like its world famous batsmen the nation has been united in doing all it can to make every step count.

Considered by some an outsider against Australia’s Gold Coast a year ago, Hambantota 2018 has since impressed with the calibre of what has been dubbed ‘the life-changing bid.’

The description reflects the myriad benefits it promises the unified nation and its people. Praised by the CGF Evaluation Commission for being ‘visionary, exciting and unique’ and meeting every single technical requirement, it has gone on to wow delegations from the Caribbean & Americas, Africa, Europe, Oceania and Asia.

With the result of its endeavours looming, the momentum is now behind a bid backed by an overwhelming 87 percent of the Sri Lankan population (99 percent in Hambantota itself).

Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee Co-Chairman and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, said: “We have demonstrated that we have what it takes to host a truly unique and successful 2018 Games. Together, we are looking forward to what we all hope will be a life-changing result that will mean so much to future generations.”

Governor Cabraal believes hosting the Games will see Sri Lanka stake claims for medals in the same way the country has done extraordinarily well in cricket. Admitted as a Test-plating nation in 1981, Sri Lanka won the World Cup just 15 years later (1996) and finished runners-up in both 2007 and earlier this year when Hambantota itself staged two matches with a global audience looking on. The host city will be announced at the CGF general assembly in St Kitts & Nevis on 11 November 2011. For more information on Hambantota 2018 visit: www.hambantota2018.com.