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.
Hambantota offers Commonwealth Games centric development
The possibility of integrating Sports, Tourism and Education development is extensively discussed and all authorities have agreed to work towards a common goal which also provides the base to facilitate Commonwealth Games or any future sports event.
Well planned, state-of-the-art facilities will be available to host any international sports event in Hambantota. Member of parliament in Hambantota district, Namal Rajapakse says, the government can lay out every unit in a more efficient & scientific manner that enhances the efficiency of any International event. This is a brand new development where ample land and resources are available. No other city in the world can offer what this game centric city can offer to the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
The basis of the Hambantota International Sports Hub (HISH) is the provision of a variety of complementary elements of a development hub which are outlined in the figure below, which also illustrates the components of a Commonwealth Games and the joint aspects of development. The intention is to support the creation of a City Region in Hambantota which firmly places it as the second city in Sri Lanka with the potential to market itself as a new, dynamic Sri Lankan city.
The most promising factor is that all these developments have already begun.
- HISH - Games Commonwealth 2018
- Sports Business Enterprise Park
- Athletics Stadium
- Warm Weather Training Facility
- Cycling Development Centre
- Hockey Centre
- Aquatic Centre
- Squash Centre
- Rugby & Football Development
- Multi Sports Halls
- 18 hole Golf Course
- IT Park
- International Cricket Stadium Complex
- National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship
- International Centre for Tourism
This combined project will be supported by a number of shared infrastructural components:
- Airport
- Sea Port
- International Conference Centre
- Hospitals
- Road Links
- Rail Links
- Engineering Electrical and Mechanical
- Telecommunications
- Schools
This combined project will take advantage of the scale of economies derived from combining the two components utilizing a number of elements from both developments, and this will go well with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) which has commented on the Glasgow bid and how they used current building to reduce costs and ensure sustainability.
It has always been the intention to share the good practices generated in Hambantota, and the Commonwealth Games would be the perfect opportunity to develop satellite facilities in all the regions to ensure that the Legacy of the games actually bears fruit before the competition begins and thereby widen the skill base of enterprise throughout the country and link it with the National Centre for Graduate Entrepreneurship.
It will also accelerate the development of the city region by providing a multi-skilled workforce which will be beneficial before, during and after the games. The concept of the Commonwealth Games as a way of creating community cohesion by including all parts of society provides a significant selling point to the CGF, but more importantly, it is a hugely important marketing opportunity which contributes enormously to the socio-economic development and growth of the country. It also allows all of the communities to prosper by having access to the good practice which will be generated and validated by the Sports Business Enterprise Park with the IT Park as the mode of communicating the knowledge and keeping the whole country informed of developments.
Growth areas for Hambantota
- Economic Growth
- Business Growth
- Population Growth
- Jobs Growth
- Growth of Citizenship
- Tourism Growth
- Inward Investment
- Exporting Sports Knowledge
- Tourist Industry Development
- Business Community Development
- Returning Expatriates
Commonwealth Games can be used to re-build parts of a country and accelerate the development of a city region that heals the rifts within the country through the engagement of the vehicle of sport. This sharing of knowledge, support and development will detract from any opposition which argues that the development in Hambantota is too centered on one area.
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