Hambantota 2018 A Model For World Sport

Hambantota 2018 A Model For World Sport

21st March 2011, Hambantota, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s plans to host its first Commonwealth Games have been brought to life with a large-scale model of the Hambantota 2018 ‘Sports City’ unveiled in the presence of Mike Hooper, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

The futuristic development now under construction will feature 90 percent of the venues and facilities for the 2018 Games. Each will be tailor made to suit specific sporting requirements and clustered together to create a new venue for world sport. The plans represent a commitment to hosting an exemplary event with superb training and competition venues in iconic surroundings.

The site includes the new Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium which successfully hosted two ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 matches last month. It also incorporates an Athletics Stadium with full warm-up and training facilities; Hockey Stadium; International Aquatics Centre; International Sports Complex to stage both indoor and outdoor sports; Indoor Arena; Velodrome; 18-Hole Golf Course; Exhibition Centre; and a state-of-the-art Games Village featuring the highest quality accommodation and support facilities for athletes with an on-site training village. A retail complex and range of world-class hotels and resorts will open in the immediate vicinity.

Unveiling the model, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee Co-Chairman and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, said: “We are honoured that Mike Hooper can be with us for a glimpse into the future of sport in Sri Lanka. The infrastructure planned for Hambantota – including the state-of-the-art Sports City – is the beginning of a sporting renaissance. Hambantota will become a new world venue for sport offering the very best warm weather training hub, superb competition facilities and a national centre of coaching excellence.”

Sports City is seen as instrumental for Hambantota’s hopes of winning the bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Conceived in 2009 by Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament for Hambantota District, it is also at the heart of the bid’s legacy ambitions. The development is being integrated with education infrastructure to help keep talent and tuition fees within the country. The 3D model reveals the development will also house two universities specialising in sports, business and media; a Business Enterprise Park; and IT Park. It will also help ‘the island jewel of the Indian Ocean’ attract a wide-ranging programme of international events. The Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee’s vision is for a full sporting calendar to please fans long fanatical about cricket and now embracing a host of other sports.

Like all venues planned for Hambantota 2018, Sports City will be ready by the end of December 2016. It is a further commitment from the Organising Committee to the CGF and all CGAs to have everything ready well in advance, with 2017 used for test events and pre-Games training.

Mr Hooper also visited the fast-developing ‘new’ city of Hambantota with Sri Lanka's Sports Minister and Co-Chairman of the Organising Committee, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage. Major infrastructure developments are already taking place including a new sea port and second international airport, a high capacity public transport system and new road network in the pipeline.

The CGF is due to choose the host city at its meeting in St Kitts and Nevis on 11 November 2011. For more information on Hambantota 2018 visit: www.hambantota2018.com

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