The XXIst Commonwealth Games is set to get off the mark today with the opening ceremony scheduled for 7.00 p.m. Australian time (2.30 pm Sri Lanka time).
Gold Coast Games will become the biggest ever Commonwealth Games as it has 6600 athletes and over 400 officials participating. Prince Charles will be the chief guest in the absence of the Head of the Commonwealth countries the Queen of England Elizabeth II.
Seventy countries are competing in nine disciplines at the Games with over 1000 journalists from 70 countries due to cover the event.
Sri Lanka’s last contingent of six competitors arrived on Monday morning along with their coaches and managers and joined the Lankan group at the Games Village. Weight Lifter Chinthana Vidanage, the captain will be the flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony along with sportsmen/women and officials.
Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera who arrived in Gold Coast on Monday evening to attend the Commonwealth Countries 9th Sports Ministers meeting left Gold Coast yesterday.
The Minister speaking to the Daily News soon after the meeting said that all those present were of the view that sports is the one that brings people of all countries together which helps develop peace and harmony. This point was unanimously agreed by all Ministers present at the meeting the Minister said.
On the first day of competition Sri Lankan sportsmen and women are billed to compete in six disciplines. The preliminaries of Swimming, Boxing and Badminton are the main events and the Lankans are expected to perform well. In Swimming the two Abeysinghe brothers will be competing in different formats and are the country’s medal hopes according to swimming officials.
In Badminton too the Karunaratne’s Niluka and Dinuka will compete on day one and the women’s team too will be seen in action. Niluka who has won many international championships is expected to make use of his experience to move into second round, while his brother Dinuka will also be aiming to emulate him.
An official of the Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee said that Sri Lanka’s leading woman gymnast Ondaatje who was a champion in Gymnastic Championship in Canada will represent Sri Lanka for the first time. She is in good form and is a good medal prospect for the country.
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