GOLD COAST TO HOST COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN 2018 – By David Martin

The Gold Coast of Australia will become the country's fifth city to host the Commonwealth Games after defeating Hambantota in Sri Lanka for the right to stage the 2018 event.
 
The Queensland tourist region of sunshine and beaches used by many teams as preparation camps prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, will take over the torch from Glasgow which is hosting the next Games in two years time.
 
Its victory will see it follow in the footsteps of Sydney which held the pre-War 1938 Commonwealths'  followed by Perth (1962), Brisbane which is very close to the Gold Coast in 1982 and the highly successful Games in Melbourne five years ago.
 
The decision has delighted not only sports fans but the nation's prime minister Julia Gillard who said: "All Australia will be looking forward to hosting the Commonwealth Games but this is going to be a particular delight for the people of the Gold Coast and the people of Queensland." 
 
Organisers expect the Games to cost the state of Queensland in the region of Australian 1.1 billion dollars but the economic benefits will see around 120,000 visitors plus 10,000 athletes and officials attend the "Friendly Games" as it is globally known.

David Martin