Hambantota Is Model for Island Games

The island nation of Sri Lanka yesterday welcomed the Oceania region inward mission from the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee Co-Chairman and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, said: "We are very excited to welcome our friends from the Oceania region and anticipate that they will be impressed by the phenomenal development which is transforming Hambantota into an economic and cultural hub. Many of the delegates come from islands not unlike Sri Lanka and we aim to put forward a model for how a small island nation can stage a world-class event. "

Over the three day visit the delegation will see many of the developments shaping the future of Hambantota. After arriving in Colombo the members will meet CGA President Mr Hemasiri Fernando to discuss how Hambantota 2018 can be "a life-changing games".

They will receive a detailed presentation about the Games Park model which will showcase how the main games site in Hambantota will deliver the most compact Commonwealth Games ever and witness first-hand the stadiums and facilities which will create a lasting legacy for sport and the people of Sri Lanka.

There will also be time to experience some of the region’s major tourist attractions including a private trip on the "Viceroy Special", a 75-year old luxury steam locomotive which journeys right in to the very heart of the island’s most dramatic and picturesque scenery and they will also pay a visit to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage.

The group representing Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue Islands, Norfolk Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga, is the last inward mission to the coastal city and could be crucial at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11th when a vote will decide if Hambantota’s bid to host the Games in 2018 has been successful.

The visit comes just one week after the European delegation’s resoundingly positive mission to the country which praised the quality of Hambantota’s bid as ‘superb’.

For more information, visit: www.hambantota2018.com.

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