Adelaide City Council gives ‘in-principle support’ to host 2030 Commonwealth Games here

PROMINENT businessman, sports sponsor and Liberal Party donor Rob Gerard has backed efforts by the Adelaide City Council to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games here.

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A FUTURE bid for Adelaide to host the Commonwealth Games will be supported by the City Council.

The Advertiser last week revealed a renewed push for the city to bring the games to Adelaide because of the infrastructure and economic boost it would give the state.

Prominent businessman, sports sponsor and Liberal Party donor Rob Gerard, AO, on Tuesday night fronted a council meeting to back the council’s leadership on hosting the games.

Mr Gerard also advocated for a games village to be built on the Women’s and Children’s Hospital site, and said securing the 2030 games was more achievable than 2026.

“This state has had too many knocks, we have been losing too much and the worst part was losing General Motors Holden ... we died as a state and we need something to lift us,” he said.

Rob Gerard has gotten behind the Council’s push.

“The village will be terrific ... it should be built on the site of the Children’s Hospital when they move it.

“We could build six towers, sell all the units.”

Mr Gerard said once the council was on board, both the opposition and government “must sign a document to the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to say we want the games”.

City councillor Houssam Abiad on Tuesday made an amendment to Cr Phil Martin’s motion, which received unanimous “in-principle support” to a bid by Commonwealth Games Australia for Adelaide to host the games.

He also requested that Lord Mayor Martin Haese writes to the relevant State Government representatives to encourage their support and asked for administration to present the attributes and opportunities of such a bid to elected members.

Mr Martin said it was “no secret that the Commonwealth Games authority’s have been to Adelaide and checked out our facilities and my understanding is that they were impressed with what the city has to offer,” he said.

“We already have a lot of the infrastructure to handle the games.

“For example, gymnastics, track and field, and rugby could be handled within current infrastructure.

“We have the convention centre, the Adelaide oval and there’s a new tennis centre on the way as well.”

Originally published as Adelaide City Council gives ‘in-principle support’ to host 2030 Commonwealth Games here