As Sri Lanka’s southern Hambantota city prepares its bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG), its ambition and potential has raised eyebrows among international hotel chains. According to LBO, Sri Lanka’s Tourist Development Authority Chief Nalaka Godahewa said Marriot and Hyatt have looked for land in Hambantota to build hotels, though no applications have yet been made to authorities. The international hotel giants are interested in setting-up 200-room hotels which will be integrated into the planned ‘Sports City’ which is the central tenet of the country’s bid. A large scale-model of the development was unveiled this week and if construction is completed on time, the complex should be operational by 2016, well in time for the Games. Sri Lanka is in a race with Gold Coast, Australia, for the hosting privilege and although a decision has not yet been made, construction of the ultramodern sports complex is already underway.
The city will consist of 20 sporting venues including 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. The entire project is testament to Sri Lanka’s ambition to re-establish itself on the international stage, leaving the woes of civil war far behind it. In addition to the facilities for hosting the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Hambantota Sports Zone will have Universities, Sports training and coaching facilities, and it will also become an information technology centre.The Commonwealth Games Federation is to choose the host city for the 2018 Commonwealth Games at its meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis on 11 November.
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