Jersey to back Gold Coast City, Queensland for the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Delegates representing the 16 member sports of the Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey voted in favour of the bid from Gold Coast City, Queensland for the 21st version of the Commonwealth Games to take place between 5th and 15th April 2018. The Association’s President, Alan Cross, having just completed an inspection visit to both Gold Coast City and to the other candidate city, Hambantota, Sri Lanka, informed delegates of both the strengths and weaknesses of both bids and highlighted a comment in the summary of a report by the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Evaluation Commission which stated that members of the Commission considered Hambantota to be a ‘high risk’ Games and that Gold Coast City was a ‘low/medium’ risk Games. The sport of archery expressed their disappointment with Council’s decision as their sport is to be included in the Hambantota programme of sports whereas it has been replaced by the sport of triathlon in the Gold Coast City bid.

Alan Cross will cast Jersey’s vote on its preferred venue for the 2018 Games together with votes from the other 70 Commonwealth Nations and Territories at the Commonwealth Games Federations General Assembly which takes place in St. Kitts and Nevis on 10th/11th November 2011. He will be accompanied on this occasion by the Jersey Association’s recently appointed Secretary General, Derek Ferguson and they will also be involved in casting Jersey’s votes on candidates for positions on the Federation’s Executive Board. The most significant change involves the election of the Federation’s President. Mr Michael Fennell (Jamaica) will end his 17 year reign as President and make way for the unopposed election of the current Vice President, Malaysia’s Prince Tunku Imran.

Members at last night’s Council Meeting also elected the local Association’s key managerial positions for the next Games i.e. the 20th Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow from 23rd July to 3rd August 2014. Paul Huddlestone, who was the Chef de Mission for Team Jersey for both the Melbourne 2006 Games and last year’ Games in Delhi was elected unopposed as Chef de Mission for the Glasgow Games along with Paul Du Feu, who was elected unopposed for the position as General Team Manager. Both Pauls worked very well as a management team in Delhi and the local Association is delighted that they, together with the Association’s Officers, will be spearheading Team Jersey’s preparation for the Glasgow Games.

Further details from Alan Cross: Tel 742254 or alan.cross@cgaj.org