The Sri Lankan and Australian cities both lodged their non-refundable deposits to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) headquarters in London by the deadline on Friday night.

The two cities are now due to travel to London next week for a meeting where the bid process will be discussed in more detail.

The next major deadline for the two cities will be on June 30 when they must return the Host City contracts.

Mark Stockwell, the three-time Olympic medallist recently appointed as the chairman of the Gold Coast's bid, is expected to be among those who will make the trip to London for the briefing.

Stockwell said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for the Gold Coast to come of age and to create an identity.

"The facilities will be in place for a couple of years before the Commonwealth Games and for years after it has been there.

"There will be a significant economic advantage to the Gold Coast community and businesses from the Commonwealth Games bid forevermore."

Ron Clarke, the Mayor of the Gold Coast and the former world record holder for 10,000 metres, is also expected to play a significant role in the bid.

He said: "Even if we do not win it [the bid], it will establish the Gold Coast as a legitimate bid city and confirm our stature as a major player.

"The Gold Coast will be a winner regardless."

Nalin Attygalle, the marketing and management consultant behind Hambantota's bid, is expected to make the journey to London to represent the Sri Lankan city located on the South East coast.

Hambantota is seeking to become the first Sri Lankan city - and only the third Asian behind Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and New Delhi later this year - to host the Games.

Attygalle told insidethegames: "We have already had discussions with few of our consortium members outside the country and all are very positive of winning the bid with a state of the art facility in Hambantota."

A spokesman for the CGF told insidethegames: "I can confirm that both bids have compiled with all terms of the Candidature process and a formal Candidate City briefing will take place in London next week - flights permitting."

The CGF are due to announce the host city when its General Assembly meets in St Kitts and Nevis in November 2011.

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