The head of Sri Lanka's 2018 Commonwealth Games bid committee, suggested that India's shoddy games last year, resulted in Sri Lanka losing out to Australia.
Highlighting India's outstanding debts to contractors, Ajith Nivard Cabraal said,
“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.”
The 2010 Games in India where heralded as India's debut as a global power, however were overshadowed by unfinished venues, poor turnout and unpaid bills. Over a year later, many of the organisers have been convicted on charges of corruption and foreign contractors are seeking legal action over their losses.
See 'Delhi Games legacy is one of debt and crime' by the Australian (Oct 2011).
Australia's Gold Coast won the 2018 bid, it will be the fifth time the country hosts the Games.
Meanwhile the 2014 Games, will be hosted by Scotland and held in Glasgow. The four home nations of the UK send separate teams. All, except Northern Ireland, have hosted the Games: England (1934, 2002), Scotland (1970, 1986) and Wales (1958).
From the 54 member nations of the Commonwealth, 71 teams participate in the Commonwealth Games, with a number of British overseas territories, Crown dependencies, and island states sending teams under their own individual flags.