Healy, one of the greatest wicketkeepers-batsmen in the history of the sport who played 119 test matches for Australia, was able to meet up at the event with an old friend Cardigan Connor, who played for Hampshire in England and is now heavily involved in sport in his native Anguilla, having been the team's Chef de Mission at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. 

The game was played at a BBQ reception that was attended by several of Australia's leading sportsmen, including 2008 Paralympic marathon champion Kurt Fearnley and Ryan Harris, another Australian Test player.

Also present was cyclist Sara Carrigan (pictured below with Dennis Knight from St Kitts and Nevis), the 2004 Olympic road race champion, and Andrew Baildon, a former swimmer who won three gold medals at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.


Queensland Premier Anna Bligh, pictured above with Keith Joseph from St Vincent and Grenadines, claimed that the event was designed to demonstrate to the delegates, who represent 26 per cent of the vote at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly at St Kitts and Nevis on November 11 when the Gold Coast will face rivals Hambantota, just how much a part of sport is of Australian life.

"The delegates have enjoyed a jam-packed itinerary and the opportunity to relax at a BBQ and have a good old Aussie backyard cricket match was really appreciated," she said.

"It was a great way to show off our love of sport to delegates who hail from nations which are just as cricket-mad as we are, and showcase some homegrown Gold Coast hospitality."

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Bid chairman, Mark Stockwell, said the delegates had enjoyed the backyard cricket.

"They were delighted with the impromptu game, especially with the lineup of sporting stars who attended, and the Broadwater provided the perfect sunset backdrop," he said.

Cayman Island delegate Donald McLean, for one, seemed impressed.

"I am very impressed with the Gold Coast and think you could host the Games tomorrow if you had to," he said.

"I'm also not surprised with the level of community support as Australians are very sports minded.

"My impressions are very favorable and on a scale of one to 10 I'd give you a 10."


Bahamas National Olympic Committee President and Commonwealth Games Association delegate, Wellington Miller claimed to be impressed with the location of the Athletes' Village next to the beach and proclaimed that the venues were "fantastic" and "ahead of their time".

Fearnley was confident that they had done enough to impress the delegation, the fourth group to visit the Gold Coast. 

"The Gold Coast would be an awesome location for the Games in 2018 and I was really impressed with the facilities and proposed venues," he said.

"The delegates I met were very engaging and interested and my gut feel is it was a very positive experience for them."

There is another opportunity for the Gold Coast to impress when the CGF Executive Board arrive there tomorrow for a visit.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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