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September 9th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
AAP
Commonwealth Games organisers have told the Queensland government it better come up with the goods in terms of transport and other infrastructure if it wants to hold the 2018 event.
And following a report which could give the Gold Coast an edge in its bid, Premier Anna Bligh has promised her government will do everything necessary to help, including fast tracking critical projects like the city’s rapid transit system.
Official Games evaluators have found the only other bidder, the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota, presents a medium to high risk and needs substantial development.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has released its review of both cities’ bids ahead of the November vote to decide who will host the Games.
Hambantota was described by the Lonely Planet tourist guide in 2009 as a “dusty little workaday fishing town”.
In its summary of findings the CGF report says the major difference between the two bids is risk.
“It is not for the CGF and this evaluation commission to cast doubt on any of the very comprehensive and serious undertakings made by both cities,” the report reads.
“Nevertheless…a Games staged on the Gold Coast presents a low risk, subject to Village development arrangements being secured, while a Games in Hambantota presents a medium to high risk.”
Hambantota will need to build $1.1 billion worth of facilities to host the Games, and substantial upgrades to its hospitals, transport system and telecommunications infrastructure will be needed, the report found.
There were also questions raised over its security system, which hasn’t been tested at such a high level, and the city’s ability to provide enough accommodation.
In comparison the report found 80 per cent of the Gold Coast’s Games facilities already exist and the city has an advanced transport and infrastructure system.
Its history as a tourist destination means it would easily be able to accommodate Games crowds.
But Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke warned against becoming complacent in the lead-up to the bid vote.
“A good report from them (the CGF) would make a difference of course but…our worst enemy now is any complacency whatsoever,” he told AAP.
“Now we just have to work as hard as we possibly can and show our enthusiasm for our representation in November.”
The premier has promised to throw the government’s weight behind the state’s second biggest city.
“The commission clearly says that infrastructure planned for the coast, such as the new rapid transit system, is needed to host the games, and our government will continue to work to make that happen.”
Games bid chairman Mark Stockwell said he was very happy with the report and the feedback from the evaluation commission.
“The overall summary augurs well for our bid, however we appreciate that the evaluation commission has spent considerable time and energy analysing our proposal, and there are elements we can refine,” he said.
The 2018 Games host will be announced on November 11 after a vote from the 71 Commonwealth delegates.
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