Hambantota, the Candidate City for Commonwealth Games in 2018

Bid Highlights

• A motivation to host a Commonwealth Games that is intrinsically linked with plans for the long term development of the District of Hambantota and the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.
• All planned competition venues will be developed by 2016 allowing a comprehensive test event programme,including the 2016 South Asian Games.
• Special 'visa on arrival' arrangements will be in place during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
• A Government-led project, with a strong financial commitment, fully supported by Guarantees.

Commonwealth Games Village

The Games Village is located in the northwest corner of the Commonwealth Games Park (the Games Park). With its own transport hub, security and direct independent access to the road network, connections to the Games venues, Hambantota city and Hambantota International Airport will be convenient and highly accessible. The new road and rail connections means that travel times to Hambantota city will be 30 minutes. The travel time to Hambantota International Airport will be within 15 minutes.

Design of the Games Village

A warm Sri Lankan welcome for everyone. A major design feature of the Games Village will be the focus on a tropical Sri Lankan feel, to provide a unique, welcoming and friendly atmosphere for residents.

The Games Village is designed as six interlinked clusters of tropical medium rise living set amidst a garden oasis of boulevards, plazas, dense planting, green belts and water features, reflecting Sri Lanka’s lush, green environment.

Three of the six clusters will be privately developed and sold as condominiums. The other three clusters will be privately developed as student accommodation for the on-site university. The student accommodation will be developed on the basis of the condominium design to avoid disparity in provision. The student accommodation will be developed as investment property in legacy mode for student living as well as for employees of the Business and IT Park and university.

Each cluster within the Games Village is sub-divided into zones of towers and will have its own distinct Sri Lankan inspired architecture, landscape and identity giving character to the site. The medium rise tower-based design will create micro-spaces that encourage social interaction and foster a sense of community spirit.

Modern amenities and transport infrastructure

Each cluster will have its own clubhouse with a gym, restaurants and function rooms providing essential recreational and communal facilities for residents at Games-time. The Games Village will also include a 50m training pool and an athletics track, with the adjacent Training Village just 0.2km away.

The Sri Lankan concept will extend to promoting pedestrian mobility. The compactness of the Games Village means that all facilities and services are a short walk from the residential areas.

Whilst there will be an intimate feel to the residential area, with circa 80% pedestrian and open spaces, there will also be a major operational road network that will carry service traffic, accommodate the internal athlete transport system and allow the Games Village to operate efficiently and effectively.

A transport mall to the east of the Games Village will provide direct and frequent access to all competition venues. Over 90% of the competition and training venues are within 1km from the Games Village, which provides athletes and officials with the optional benefit of walking between venues.

The Games Village has been designed with athletes in mind and has incorporated best practice from many previous multi-sport Villages. Athletes have provided their input, ensuring that functionality and convenience have been at the forefront of the planning and design process. International, Residential and Operational zones

The layout of the Games Village is based on the functionality that a major multi-sport event Village requires for it to operate efficiently, whilst retaining a unique look and sense of a distinctive place, with a Sri Lankan feel. The three functional zones – International, Residential and Operational – have been designed to provide optimal operational effectiveness.

The International Zone, including the Welcome Ceremony Plaza will be located near the road network for ease of access. It will connect the Games Village to the Games Park through an expansive pedestrian walkway. The Main Entrance, Media Centre, Guest Pass Centre are conveniently located for ease of access.

The Residential Zone provides the living area for athletes and team officials. It also includes the CGA office spaces and the Casual Dining. The layout ensures that all the main Games Village services are in close proximity to the team accommodation. The major facilities including Main Dining Hall, Transport Mall, Polyclinic, CGA Services Centre, Sports Information and Welcome Centre are all within 0.7km of the Games Village accommodation. The Main Dining Hall and the Transport Mall are located centrally in order to provide the optimum location and accessibility for these highly used services. Other areas in this zone include:

• CGA Offices: All CGA offices will be located on the ground floor of each residential tower. A typical CGA Office will comprise a Chef de Mission Office, a Meeting Room, a Medical Room and a Physiotherapy Room, dependent on the CGA’s delegation size.
• CGA Services Centre: A ‘one-stop-shop’ for CGA business, including representation from the CGF.
• Sports Information Centre: To provide information on training, competition and results for all sports.
• Religious Services Centre: Prayer rooms and facilities for the following religions: Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. It will also provide informal religious support, spiritual counselling and meditation.
• Polyclinic: A multi-disciplinary medical facility and the main provider of medical services to athletes and team officials.
• Casual Dining: An alternative dining experience to Main Dining, in a fun, al-fresco environment, with a varied food and beverage offer.

The club house in each cluster will include a gym, training, meeting and massage rooms, as well as entertainment and recreational facilities such as games room, bar and al-fresco restaurant.

Accommodation and telecommunication

The Games Village is designed to meet the individual needs of the residents and provide a high standard of accommodation for every athlete and official. Sri Lanka is renowned for its hospitality and the exceptional quality of its customer service. The Games Village will showcase many of these characteristics – from a warm welcome through to high levels of housekeeping and amenity services.

A typical residential tower for athletes and team officials will be 10-12 storeys with 48-60 apartments. Each apartment will have 2-3 bedrooms and each bedroom will accommodate two residents. One bedroom in each apartment will be en-suite, with the remaining bedrooms sharing a bathroom. All apartments will have their own living/dining, and kitchen areas.

All apartments will be air-conditioned and will be fully furnished with amenities such as televisions, refrigerators, electric kettles, washing machines, irons and ironing boards. All residential entrances, corridors and lifts will be fully accessible for wheelchair use.

Fibre-optic telecommunications and local wireless networks will be available free of charge throughout the residential areas, with internet connections available in the apartments. Each apartment will also be fitted with cable TV.