Brisbane 2032: Olympics love story smashed 80 days after victory

This bipartisan facade that wooed the International Olympic Committee into awarding the 2032 Games to Brisbane has been smashed, writes Hayden Johnson.

As the adage goes, all good things must come to an end.

This Olympic love story between Queensland and Commonwealth politicians has come crashing down just 80 days after their awkward leap and celebratory elbow bump in Tokyo.

Infuriated by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s perceived Olympics power grab Ted O’Brien, the Prime Minister’s Olympics man in Queensland, has threatened to tear up the deal unless the Commonwealth is guaranteed equal influence.

His warning was less a shot across the bow than a cannonball into the hull.

This bipartisan facade that wooed the International Olympic Committee into awarding the 2032 Games to Brisbane has been smashed.

Lazy legislation – albeit in draft form – provides the Premier with an unprecedented opportunity to stack the 2032 organising committee and then oversee its operations.

IOC President Thomas Bach meets with the Australian delegation from Queensland in Lausanne, Switzerland. Photography: Greg Martin/IOC

Unless Queensland Government bureaucrats ensure this legislation ensures truly equitable representation between the Commonwealth Coalition and Queensland Labor, the partnership deal will be off.

It appears Ms Palaszczuk has faltered at the first hurdle in introducing legislation to establish the committee – her priority as Olympics Minister – without infuriating her cashed-up Commonwealth partners.

This is not about the Premier’s self-appointment as Olympics Minister – but criticism of the government’s dictatorial attempt at control.

As the face of the bid, Ms Palaszczuk was right to travel to Tokyo and win the Games in July.

However, photo opportunities and the glitz and glamour of International Olympic Committee events must now give way to the slow and detailed grind towards delivering a global spectacle.

The Commonwealth and Queensland must remain in lock-step or Brisbane’s Games could be more reminiscent of Athens 2004 than Sydney 2000.