We don’t want a pity vote; Hambantota

11 July 2011 01:55 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Hambantota bidding committee for the 2018 Commonwealth games said today, that Sri Lanka did not want a pity vote instead was willing to compete on the merits of its bid.

Australian media claimed that many developing nations would vote for Sri Lanka based on “political reasons”. However Chief Executive Officer of the Hambantota bidding committee Nalin Attygala told the Daily Mirror that such statements were unfounded. “There must be no underestimation of any developing country, especially with regards to the preparations for the Commonwealth games. Sri Lanka is not seeking sympathy votes instead the votes we receive will be based on merit,” he said.

The Border mail also quoted Chief Executive of the Gold Coast 2018 bid Mark Peters as saying that after the difficulties in Delhi in 2010, Hambantota was a risk. “We never benchmarked ourselves to Delhi and from the beginning we said that we were looking at the Kuala Lumpur Games, Malaysia. We considered the economic developed that Malaysia obtained during the 1990’s and the state of its economy prior to the games,” Attygala said.

He added that it was unfortunate that another Commonwealth country was running down a voting nation. “We didn’t compare ourselves with our neighbor because India is too big, but it is surprising that the Australians would run down another voting country such as India,” he said. Attygala further stated that Sri Lanka looked at the Gold Coast as a legitimate competitor and would not resort to undermining their efforts.

Attygala expressed that by 2016 Hambantota would prove to be a state of the art facility. “The games will be held in 2018 but by 2016 we will prove that we are well equipped to host the games. Additionally we will have the unique advantage of having 15 of the 17 sports within one complex,” he said. (Dianne Silva)

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Comments - 18

adhil Tuesday, 12 July 2011 01:17 AM

yes lets do that, lets save, and lets be economically stagnant in forever, we need the games, yes, it will prove a loss now, but in the future we will reap many benefits

sandy Tuesday, 12 July 2011 07:14 AM

gud one!!!!!!!!!!

sparks Tuesday, 12 July 2011 06:44 AM

Olympics for the monkeys

Ram Tuesday, 12 July 2011 06:37 AM

Our people always think we are small. confine to a box mentality. It is time to step out now.

Rajendra Samaranayak Tuesday, 12 July 2011 06:20 AM

How about for winter Olympics????? Ha ha ha.....

Imran Hussein Tuesday, 12 July 2011 05:28 AM

Give us one good economic reason as why this should go ahead? What future benifit you talking about? Its nothing butgoing to be another name sake structure, thats all.

R Tuesday, 12 July 2011 05:08 AM

You mean like we made millions of losses by hosting CWC.

Janet Tuesday, 12 July 2011 05:09 AM

What else to say as this poll cannot be rigged.

wasa Tuesday, 12 July 2011 04:16 AM

Hambantota is the best place for even olyimpics.

simple mind Monday, 11 July 2011 02:13 PM

Have the sport in Hambantota while the rest of the country starves

adhil Tuesday, 12 July 2011 01:10 AM

we need the games, so that the country doesnt keep starving in the future

Guru Monday, 11 July 2011 09:58 PM

Beggers are always beggers.

polonga sumathipala Monday, 11 July 2011 05:45 PM

This is what you call "Talking Big". What merit do they think they can muster. ....that in their wildest of dreams Hambantota is another Gold Coast?

zac Monday, 11 July 2011 05:49 PM

when we have parliment in Hambantoto

Jack Monday, 11 July 2011 04:35 PM

I s this another huge white elephant making few of top class form billionare stage to Trillionare stage....ha..ha...

Gamarala Monday, 11 July 2011 04:04 PM

No pity votes. But you will have stupiid votes

kanishka Monday, 11 July 2011 03:51 PM

not voting for Sri Lanka will do greater good to the country in terms of saving the nations finances !

Miliband Monday, 11 July 2011 03:22 PM

stock market finally collapsed.

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We don’t want a pity vote; Hambantota

Comments - 18

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