Jump to content

Hambantota 2018


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 233
  • Created
  • Last Reply

:) games SL,

Keep the pictures comming! This looks amazing.

Hambantota definitly has a future as a CWG host.

You really think so? It looks to me like a small and remote all inclusive resort that you'd find along the coast of Mexico. Not a big city ready to host several thousand athlete, officials and media representatives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wasn't kidding when I said Oceania (12 votes) was going to vote for the Gold Coast.

http://insidethegames.biz/commonwealth-games/2018/13668-gold-coast-2018-guaranteed-oceania-vote-for-commonwealth-games

July 23 - The Gold Coast's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games has won the support of the Oceania countries it was revealed today.

The 12 Oceania representatives are part of a delegation currently visiting the Australian city to inspect its bid.

Cook Islands delegate Sir Geoffrey Henry revealed that he and his colleagues had decided last October during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi that they would vote for the Gold Coast.

"We're all voting as a block," Sir Geoffrey, President of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee, told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

The Oceania group is made up of the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

"We talked about it a long time ago," said Sir Geoffrey, who has twice been the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands.

"We've been to Delhi and we really don't want to go back there.

"I'd rather come here."

Henry's comments about Delhi will be a major blow to Hambantota, the Gold Coast's only rival, who have spent much of the campaign trying to distance themselves from comparisons with the event in the Indian capital, which was overshadowed by problems in the build-up, including doubts over whether the facilities would be ready in time.

"The lifestyle is good, the people are friendly and it's a good place to be," said Sir Geoffrey.

"We believe Australia can assist in sport development better than Sri Lanka."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<_< Sir Geoffrey is nothing more than an 'old school' Commonwealth yes-man. I wonder what kickbacks he received for saying that.

Of course the Oceania nations would say that, the logistics and airfares are cheaper - and the fact New Zealand and Australian aid money will pretty much pay for their participation...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<_< Sir Geoffrey is nothing more than an 'old school' Commonwealth yes-man. I wonder what kickbacks he received for saying that.

Of course the Oceania nations would say that, the logistics and airfares are cheaper - and the fact New Zealand and Australian aid money will pretty much pay for their participation...

Exactly. Add Malawi's vote and you have a solid 15 votes right there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
Hambantota at centre of latest WikiLeaks claims

August 28 - Hambantota, which is bidding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has found itself at the centre of the latest WikiLeaks controversy after it was revealed that the United States Government believed that the Chinese were bribing Sri Lankan officials to win contracts linked to the redevelopment of the city.

China has been the driving force behind a major infrastructural development phase with an international airport, international port, railway line being built in Hambantota, which was devastated in 2004 by the tsunami and has always remianed relatively underdeveloped.

The city is the home constituency for Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa (pictured above at the opening of the Port last November).

His son Namal Rajapaksa is the co-chairman of Hambantota's Commonwealth Games bid.

The new $1.5 billion (£916,000/€1 billion) Port is located about two kilometres from one of the world's biggest east-west shipping lanes and is expected to attract up to 2,500 ships each year when it is fully open.

Phase One of the new Hambantota Port was constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company at a cost of $360 million (£220 million/€248 million)

"It is likely that corruption and political patronage are significant factors playing into the focus on Hambantota," said the cable sent from the US Embassy in Sri Lankan capital Colombo published on WikiLeaks.

"Often when Chinese companies win contracts, their success is due in part on their widespread distribution of graft to senior Sri Lankan Government officials.

"While it is currently unknown to what extent President Mahinda Rajapaksa is involved in Hambantota development, it seems logical that his hand is also out when commercial enterprises, especially the Chinese, jockey for contracts and projects."

The Embassy cable also notes: "There has not yet been private investment in the Hambantota Region, which could be a hard sell.

"Hambantota is located in the rural south, far from Colombo, there are no significant industrial industries nearby, so at least initially Hambantota will not benefit from local exports and imports.

"The Hambantota project has been Government directed, although private investment could emerge later if the project becomes commercially viable."

In a comment to its observations, the US Embassy notes: "With Chinese and other foreign assistance, the GSL (Government of Sri Lanka), SLPA (Sri Lanka Ports Authority), and UDA (Urban Development Authority) are pushing ahead with plans rapidly and robustly to develop Hambantota.

"When the GSL master plan is completed, Hambantota will have a new seaport, international airport, rail links, roads, and local infrastructure.

"Despite this, there are no near-term prospects for significant commercial investment.

"The 'international' airport will only be used for charter flights."

Last year Ron Mayor, the Mayor of the Gold Coast, Hambantota's only rivals to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, warned that they had to be taken seriously because they had the backing of China.

"We're respecting their bid - there's always that question about what does that Chinese investment mean for the bid, but no-one has the answers to those questions," he said.

But Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the Hambantota 2018 co-chairman and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, told insidethegames during a visit to Britain last December that China's influence in Hambantota had been overestimated.

"China is just one of many countries who are investing in the region, along with India, Britain, Germany and the European Union," he said.

"Sri Lanka has many friends."

A decision on which city will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games is due to be made at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11.

Insidethegames.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<_< Alas, poor America! Broke and with no friends in the region.

So what if China had the money to 'bribe' their way into major contracts.

Almost reminds us of America's behaviour in the 1960s, 70s, 80s...

What affect it will have on the CWGs bid, who knows. Prehaps the over the top Olympic sized venues?

Then again with Oceanian CF delegates promised 'asistance' to attend a possible Gold Coast games if successful...Hey Wait a Minute!...Isn't that bribary?...

...Rols? ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Then again with Oceanian CF delegates promised 'asistance' to attend a possible Gold Coast games if successful...Hey Wait a Minute!...Isn't that bribary?...

:rolleyes:

You know such assistance is standard for any hosting these days.

... meanwhile, back with the Sri Lankan war criminals ......

I meant it as China would bribe the nations that vote making this issue moot :lol:

What's in it for them that SL host a games they don't take part in or are uninterested in? All they want is a naval base to keep a pointed gun at the Indian's southern underbelly ... and they're getting that regardless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:rolleyes:

You know such assistance is standard for any hosting these days.

... meanwhile, back with the Sri Lankan war criminals ......

What's in it for them that SL host a games they don't take part in or are uninterested in? All they want is a naval base to keep a pointed gun at the Indian's southern underbelly ... and they're getting that regardless.

Believe me if Sri Lanka tells China to do something they will likely do it or risk losing influence to India. *Geopolitics*

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still, with a more 'favorable' Chinese backing, the CGF may feel more secure in a future SriLankan bid...

Look, I accept that Gold Coast is going into November as favorites but what's going to happen next time?

Yes there's South Africa, but what will happen is we are going to see a UK- Australia circuit occasionally broken by Canada.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whatever gets your jollies off.

I don't care enough about the GC to try to push its case - I would have been happier if it was just about anywhere else.

Just that Hambantota is NOT a competitive bid.

Sheesh. Some people would even push the barrow for an Abu Ghraib or Sebrenica hosting - never mind if it was possible or not - as long as it was "exotic".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...