The event was opened by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who said the Games will contribute to further enhancing the image of the country as a visitor destination.

A total of 359 athletes representing eight South Asian countries will compete in 11 sports at the week-long event which ends on October 14.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Pakistan will join Sri Lanka in taking part in a series of sports, including basketball, football, handball, kabbadi, netball, volleyball, body building, equestrian, sailing, swimming and triathlon. 

The event was robbed of some of its glamour when four Sri Lankan body builders were found guilty of taking illegal drugs forcing the organisers to cancel six events in that sport due to the lack of the minimum number of participants for an event.  

The Games' opening have coincided with a group of delegates from across Asia arriving in Hambantota to inspect the city's bid to host the Commonwealth Games.

The visit from representatives from  Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan and Singapore is the last in a series of regional inward missions ahead of the crucial vote in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11 to decide the host city for 2018, where Hambantota will be facing rivals the Gold Coast. 

Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee co-chairman and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, used Hambantota's emblem to explain why Asia should vote for the candidate from its own continent.

"The Hambantota 2018 emblem features eight pairs of hands in the colours of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)," he said.

"Each pair of hands is pressed together, palms together and fingers pointed outwards. 

"This symbolises Añjali Mudrā, the hand gesture practiced throughout Asia and the continent's eight Commonwealth members; it has the same meaning as the customary spoken Sanskrit greeting Namaste.

"This embodies our bid. 

"It is not just an emblem but a promise we keep both to the CGF and visitors to our unified country; that we will extend the hand of friendship to all. 

"Just as we do this week as we welcome our friends from Asia who can be a key part of – and share – our legacy."

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