Commonwealth Games: ‘Shoddy India event hit Sri Lanka’s bid’

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s failed bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games may have been scuttled because of shoddy organisation of the event in neighbouring India last year, according to Ajith Nivard Cabraal, head of the Sri Lankan bid committee. Ahead of a vote on the 2018 event last week, Canada brought up deficiencies at the New Delhi Games last year and highlighted that many bills remained unpaid. “It created a certain fear amongst the voting delegates who associated India closely with Sri Lanka and as a result it may have affected our chances,” said Cabraal.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2011.