By Duncan Mackay

Hambantota 2017 received the flag for the Asian Youth Games at a special handing over ceremony at the end of the last event in Nanjing in 2013 ©OCASri Lanka has proposed hosting most of the 2017 Asian Youth Games in the capital Colombo with the rest taking place in Hambantota, the city originally awarded the event. 


The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is close to stripping Sri Lanka of the event because of the lack of organisational progress, including setting-up an Organising Committee.

National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka chairman Hemasiri Fernando now plans to present a new proposal to the OCA when they visit the country later this month. 

Sri Lanka's new plan will have the Games hosted in two cities with the track and field and major sports being be held in Colombo, with the reminder taking place in Hambantota.

"They [OCA] gave us three months to prove our capability, which I think is a fair duration for any country to get into action," said Fernando. 

"The delegation will meet the officials and will decide where Hambantota stands with regard to the AYG 2017.

"However, we are trying to host one third of the events in Hambantota and the rest will be hosted in Colombo.

"It is easier for us, both practically and financially to host the rest in Colombo and we will show them our plans to upgrade the existing facilities to the standards expected.

"We are considering the venues which hosted the South Asian Games in 2006.

"Upgrading the existing venues will save lot of time as money."

National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka chairman Hemasiri Fernando hopes the new proposal will allow the country to keep the 2017 Asian Youth Games ©National Olympic Committee of Sri LankaNational Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka chairman Hemasiri Fernando hopes the new proposal will allow the country to keep the 2017 Asian Youth Games
©National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka

The OCA delegation is due to hold talks with Sri Lankan officials in Colombo on June 30.

Hambantota were awarded the Games by the OCA in June 2012 after being chosen ahead of Qatar, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

These are due to be the third Asian Youth Games since they were first held in Singapore in 2009.

The last edition took place in Nanjing last year. 

"We will show them how capable we are," said Fernando.

"If they just look at Colombo which was a city once was not so pleasant, they will understand that we are capable of doing it.

"With the massive strength we have from the tri-forces who have done the impossibles, building grounds, roads and so many things in double, triple quick time, it will not be hard for us to finish the necessary infrastructure to host a successful Asian Youth Games.

"On the other hand, President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also the Finance Minister, has promised us to release necessary funding to make this a reality."

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