A Sri Lankan delegation was in Glasgow, Scotland this week discussing the country’s bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the southern port town of Hambantota, officials said.
Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraaal, who is also chairman of the official Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games Candidate City Organising Committee (OC), told the Business Times by telephone from chilly, winter-swept Glasgow that delegations from Sri Lanka and Gold Coast, Australia (the only other bidder for the 2018 Games), attended the meeting which ran from November 29 to December 4 and was called by the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“The Federation was briefing the two sides on the neeeds, requirements and other issues to conduct such an event. The recently concluded Delhi Commonwealth Games was also discussed and the lessons learnt,” Mr Cabraal said, adding that the meeting was taking place in Scotland because it’s the venue for the next 2014 Games. The meeting was a briefing to bidders and not to decide on the winning bid, he said.
Sri Lanka is bidding to host the Games with the only other opponent being Gold Coast, Australia. Games organisers discussed 15 themes of the Games which included security, protocol, venues, visa processes, air transportation, road networks, etc.
Sri Lanka has appointed an international team of advisers to help Sri Lanka develop its bid for the Games. The team is led by pmplegacy, the global sporting events consultancy and includes Fast Track, Bell Pottinger, Populous and PwC, together with a number of specialist advisers in transport planning, sustainability, security, brand and communications and cost consultancy, according to a statement issued by the Central Bank. |
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