The Gold Coast are currently locked in a two-city battle to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games with Hambantota also out to win the support of the 71 Commonwealth countries who will determine the winner in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11 this year.

The five-person Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Evaluation Commission, which also included the CGF chief executive Mike Hooper, are due to visit Sri Lanka for a four-day inspection next Monday (June 27).

But Hambantota will be very wary after Martin showered praise on the Gold Coast bid at a press conference that followed the conclusion of the official inspection of the city.

"Having been here and experienced four glorious days, we understand why the Gold Coast is one of Australia's tourist capitals," said Martin, who is well versed in the bidding process having successfully chaired Glasgow's campaign to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

"The foundations to a great Games are laid in the Gold Coast plans, which are now being locked down by the Governments, the bid team and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

"Overall, we can tell you that the proposition of staging the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast is an exciting one and appears, based on our initial analysis, to be sound.

"Not only does it appear that the basic infrastructure requirements can be met, it also seems that in meeting these Games requirements important legacies can be generated for the city and region."

"These legacies will include improved community infrastructure, improved transport, an acceleration of important economic drivers such as the Knowledge Precinct and other social programmes.

During the inspection of the Gold Coast, the Commission met with the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh (pictured below centre) and Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke as well as representatives from Federal, State and City Governments, the bid team and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.


Martin claimed that all had made a strong case for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.

"The international audience and focus that the Commonwealth Games will bring to the Gold Coast should it be the successful bid city, will further enhance the international standing and image of the Gold Coast and assist to promote it as one of the world's great destinations," she said.

"So there is much to gain should the Games come to the Gold Coast."

The Commission are now set to head to Singapore for a two-day briefing session before arriving in Sri Lanka on Sunday (June 26) one day before the official inspection gets underway.

The Commission is set to release its report on the two bid cities in September, a month before the vote at the Federation's General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11.

"The evaluation process is extremely important," Martin added.

"It is not just a question of accessing the bid city but as we have seen this week, it also provides an opportunity to fine tune and enhance propositions leveraging the experience of the Commonwealth Games Federations and its advisers."

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