The Gold Coast are battling it out with Hambantota for the right to host the Games and the Australian city appeared to move firmly into pole position at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games after giving a flawless presentation to voters that Hambantota failed to attend.

But Hambantota have now hit back when they played one of their trump cards by annoncing that Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraala, a qualified accountant credited with bringing substantial economic growth to Sri Lanka, will head Hambantota's Bid Committee.

The Committee also includes the country's Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and former Deputy Minister of Justice Dilan Perera, while Hambantota recently appointed the global sporting events consultancy pmplegacy to help manage the bid.

Peters told insidethegames: "We have always considered Hambantota to be very strong contenders even before they appointed their bid committee and started making their intentions clear.

"We always knew they were going to be major contenders even when they were being written off by some so we are not surprised that they have a powerful bid committee in place.

"But we have always been focused on our own bid though and nothing will change there.

"We know we bring certain qualities to the table and I'm sure they do too so there really is a 50-50 chance of winning."

Mark Stockwell, the chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 bid, added: "They have obviously got a few political heavyweights on their board so it really does mean it is game on now.

"There is still a fair way until a decision on 2018 is made [on November 11, 2011 in Basseterre in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean] and we'll definitely be fighting hard all the way from now until then."

Peters continued that the Gold Coast perhaps offers voters a safer option than Hambantota for 2018 which he feels they may be looking for after the problems in the build up to Delhi which included health and safety fears, allegations of corruption and soaring construction costs regarding the venues.

Peters said: "Delhi taught us that you put the Commonwealth Games in locations where they can be successful.

"I think that Delhi was a location that should have been able to put on a good Commonwealth Games but for a whole host of reasons, it didn't quite happen as they would have liked.

"I don't think the Commonwealth Games are about taking a risk all the time and certainly the Gold Coast takes away the risk factor.

"We have passionate people who love watching sport that will fill the stadiums, we have friendly volunteers everywhere and we can attract television networks.

"There are all huge positives for our bid and perhaps give us an advantage.

"Melbourne in 2006 was a great Commonwealth Games and after Delhi, there is a strong argument that we need a great Games in 2018 to help restore the brand and win back the hearts and minds of both the big name athletes and the international sporting federations.

"I am sure Glasgow will host a great Commonwealth Games in 2014; there is little doubt about that.

"But I think we need two, three or four great Commonwealths in succession to keep the brand right at the top where it should be and we feel we can definitely do that.

"We proved it in Melbourne four years ago and also at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 so I think you are guaranteed a certain amount of safety with putting a major sporting event in the hands of Australia."

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