Glasgow 2014 was most definitely a new standard in the delivery of a Commonwealth Games. The "drop dead brilliant", "best ever Games" raised the bar for future host cities, a fact not lost on organisers of Gold Coast 2018.

They know they have a tough task to keep the flag flying high as it were, and continue the wave of positivity that has been left by Glasgow.

But it's not a challenge they're likely to shy away from with preparations here running seemingly without glitch.

Now, it's always been my dream to travel to Australia. This may lead my perception of the area to be somewhat biased, therefore. I'm willing to admit that early on as to avoid any later criticism of my blatant and undeniable love for the city of Gold Coast.

I do, however, feel it is justifiable. After spending an hour in the city, driving up the coast from Coolangatta airport, where the runaway is in fact the border between Queensland and New South Wales - a factor that can cause all kinds of confusion with daylight saving time - it's hard not to be taken in by the laid back, warm, friendly atmosphere that just oozes from the very air that you breathe.

The sun sea and sand provides the perfect setting for the 2018 Commonwealth Games as Gold Coast looks to thrill the world with this next edition of the Games ©ITG



Sitting in a renovated surf club, which is now one of a number of highly popular pop-up cafes that have begun sprouting up across the city, it's already evident that this city is active.

From the bike lanes on the road and the organic health craze, to the herds of cyclists and runners trundling along at silly o'clock in the morning, it's easy to see that this is a region that wants to be fit.

When you arrive at your hotel to the sight of surfers clambering down the street with their boards, heading to the white sandy beaches that are a mere stone throw away, you can't help but smile.

This is a city that's young, it's a city that's vibrant and it's a city that is ready to host a Commonwealth Games. Obviously not yet - luckily for them they have three-and-a-half years to continue with preparations, but the framework is there, the support is there and the culture is one that, I believe, will benefit a great deal from this event.

These benefits are already tangible even three and a half years out from the Games with the new G:link light rail service, opened in mid-July, and the Gold Coast Aquatics Centre.

The newly renovated Gold Coast Aquatics Centre is one of many high quality facilities being offered by organisers for these Commonwealth Games and will provide a legacy for the city ©Gold Coast



The Aquatics Centre was originally designed to be opened in 2017 but, with the opportunity for a "test event" in the form of the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, this was moved forward to August of this year.

I actually almost signed up for a year-long membership, only backing down at the realisation that it may be slightly difficult to attend the weekly spinning class from the other side of the globe...

Such is the draw of this simply remarkable complex which is but one of a huge array of venues being renovated, reconstructed or built in preparations for the Games.

I was actually able to visit a number of these venues early this morning under the watchful guidance of two of the Gold Coast team - the all-singing, all-dancing Nicole, and the Gold Coast's number one tour guide Veronica.

The Carrara Stadium, set to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the athletics, and the Robina Stadium, home of the rugby sevens, showed the high calibre of facility already on offer within the city, giving need for just three newly-built venues for the Games.

The recently completed Gold Coast University Hospital, built on the health and knowledge precinct of Parklands, home of the Games Village, shows the effort this city is putting in to drive economical growth and provide a more sustainable future away from simply tourism.

All these factors are made possible by the Commonwealth Games, and will benefit greatly from the existence of the Games come 2018.

The city's love of sport, a prevailing asset of much of Australia, makes it the perfect home for a Commonwealth Games. The support that has been shown since the bid, not only by the Government, but by the people – the guys that really count when it comes to a Games, has been phenomenal and paves the way for an undoubtedly successful Games.

All I hope is that I can continue this journey with the city, watch it grow and mature until it's ready to show the world that it's one of the sporting elite.

Paul Osborne is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.