Hambantota bid loss no setback to sports development plan

Chinthana WASALA

Although Sri Lanka lost the bid to host the 2018 Commonweath Games (CWG) in Hambantota, the initiative taken to uplift the standard of sports with a seven year development plan would go ahead without interruption according to Sports Minister Mahindananda Alutgamage.

This was revealed at a press briefing held at the Central Bank yesterday, after the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid which took place at St. Kitts and Nevis.

The seven year development plan is expected to prepare up and coming Lankan sportsmen to reach international standards and starting from the Anuradhapura Sports Complex and the International Athletic Stadium near the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Suriyawewa, Hambantota, the initial plan to build new sports complexes - one in each province will continue, irrespective of the outcome of the Commonwealth Games Bid.

“Every vote is like that. If there are two competitors, one should win and the other should lose. But we are happy with our effort” said Central Bank Governor and Hambantota 2018 co-chairman Ajith Nivard Cabraal. He also said that comments made by Canada at the later stages, criticizing the organization of the New Delhi Games may have created a certain fear among some of the voting delegates who associated India closely with Sri Lanka.

“As a result I think that may have hurt our chances to some extent, although we know that one of the most successful Commonwealth Games was conducted in India last year” Cabraal added.

Cabraal also said “this lobby appeared to be designed to give some kind of a feeling that Asian countries are unable to have very good games.

That also may have gone against us to some extent.”

The bid was a tremendous platform for Sri Lanka to promote the country to more than 70 nations across the world and to the international media.

The Hambantota 2018 Bid received universal praise from Commonwealth nations including the rival bidders Gold Coast.

Even the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Fennell had stated that the Sri Lankan bid was exceptionally strong and had demonstrated that the nation can deliver world class events on a global scale.

In reply to a point made by a journalist, asking why such a big delegation went to St. Kitts for the CWG Bid, CB Governor said “we needed to deliver the best. We did not go there to lose the bid.

We went there with highest hopes. When we compete for such an international event, we have to do the best presentation so we included professionals representing various streams and we did our best” he said.

“When Sangakkara plays against Australia, he cannot be ill-equipped. He cannot bat with a “Kaduru Bat”, saying that he represents a third world country.

He should use the best gear” added the CB Governor, stating the importance of delivering the best at the top level.