Sri Lanka not out of Commonwealth Games bid race

Sunday, 3 October 2010 23:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas says Sri Lanka has not withdrawn their bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games despite the Gold Coast’s only current rival not making a presentation.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh lead a team of four on Saturday to make their first presentation to delegates from all 71 participating countries and territories of the Commonwealth Games Federation to host the 2018 Games.

Mr Lucas told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday that the Gold Coast’s only current rival Sri Lanka declined to make a presentation to the delegates.

“But it certainly has not withdrawn its bid and we need to be very, very careful about that,” he said.

“Whether there’s two competitors in the race for the Commonwealth Games bid - us and Sri Lanka - or whether there’s 10, one thing I’ll tell you is that the Premier will be running and we will be running as hard as we can.

“It’s very very important, it’s a tourism benefit, it’s a sporting benefit, and it’s a further marketing of the Gold Coast and Queensland.

“We could put on a jolly good games in Queensland and Australia and I think people will recognise that.” (AAP)