Hambantota_beach_with_palm_treesDecember 25 - Hambantota have begun appointing officials to organise the first-ever South Asian Beach Games there in August, an event seen as vital to the city's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.


A main committee has been established under Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Mahinda Aluthgamage and also includes Dilan Perera, the country's Minister of Port Development, and Namal Rajapaksa, the son of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was recently elected as an MP for Hambantota.

Hemasiri Fernando, the President of the Sri Lankan Olympic Committee, will also serve on the group. 

The event, which Sri Lanka was awarded last month during the Asian Games in Guangzhou, will feature nine sports.

They are swimming, handball, kabbadi, netball, rowing, rugby, bodybuilding, football and cricket.

Hambantota hopes that if it stages the event successfully it will boost their chances of being chosen to stage the Commonwealth Games ahead of rivals the Gold Coast.

"This task takes top priority," said Aluthgamage.

The Commonwealth Games Federation are due to choose the host city at its meeting in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11, 2011.


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