Destination Australia boss calls for southeast Queensland Olympics bid
The head of Australia’s biggest tourism body will today call for a southeast Queensland bid for the Olympic Games which the Gold Coast could be a part of.
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THE head of Australia’s peak tourism body has re-enforced his support for a southeast Queensland bid for the Olympic Games.
In Brisbane today for the annual Destination Australia conference, Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan said the region was perfectly placed for a tilt at the world’s ultimate sporting showpiece.
During last year's Commonwealth Games, he urged state leaders to “Go larger” as hosting the world’s largest sporting event was the “next logical step”.
This week, he said the Gold Coast’s Commonwealth Games had proved Queensland was up to the task to go one better by bidding to host the Olympics, in either 2032 or 2036.
“The Commonwealth Games provided a great opportunity to position Brisbane and the Gold Coast as truly major international event destinations,” he said.
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“From there, I truly believe that the natural next step must be a bid for a Summer Olympic Games, if not for 2032 then 2036.
“It’s there for the taking.”
Mr O’Sullivan is the latest in a growing number of heavyweights to champion the bid for a southeast Queensland Olympic campaign.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has said he was not prepared to commit ratepayer funds to an Olympic bid proposal, but would gladly allow city sporting facilities upgraded for the Commonwealth Games to be used as Olympic venues.
The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre’s multimillion-dollar upgrade was a raging success at the Commonwealth Games, but it would be unlikely to feature as an Olympic swimming venue due to different specifications required by the International Olympic Committee.
However, new venues at Coomera and Carrara could be in the mix for hosting rights for a number of sports.
Originally published as Destination Australia boss calls for southeast Queensland Olympics bid
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