Opinion: Qatar bid puts heat on southeast Qld Olympics
Southeast Queensland’s bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games just got real, with the entry of scandal-plagued Qatar into the race, writes Peter Gleeson.
Opinion
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When International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach took over the top job in world sport in 2013, he promised a new era of transparency and fiscal responsibility.
Bach was determined to put the dark days of the IOC behind it, including the infamous scandal of widespread corruption that emerged in 1998.
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It was charged that IOC members had accepted bribes – gifts, cash, entertainment, business favours, travel and medical expenses, even college tuition for members’ children – from members of the committee that had successfully advanced the bid of Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Games.
The IOC responded by expelling six committee members, several others resigned and the organisation began regulating the site-selection process and clarifying the obligations of the IOC and bid cities.
It led to a new way of bidding for the Olympics – a system where the IOC now essentially “invites’’ bid cities to go on a journey with the selection subcommittee to determine its suitability.
Once the subcommittee has determined the best bid, it then recommends the host city it wants to the overall IOC membership.
No more Cartier watches on the bed for the wives of IOC delegates.
The so-called new paradigm is the main reason southeast Queensland is so advanced in its desire to host the 2032 Olympics.
We’re happy to back ourselves, but only on a level playing field.
Thomas Bach is proud of the new system and believes it makes for a much fairer and transparent bidding process.
At the core of the IOC’s beliefs on host city selection is the care and protection of the athletes and the host country’s commitment to gender equity and a modern, progressive social justice and political system.
It has been revealed that Middle Eastern country Qatar is now formulating a bid for the 2032 Olympics, which puts it in a head-to-head battle with Queensland.
It is certain the IOC will look at a number of facets relating to Qatar. The Olympics must be held in September 2032.
The temperature in that month in Qatar averages 38C during the day and 26C overnight.
Athlete comfort may be a factor, especially with Brisbane’s September having an average high of 24C and an overnight low of 14C.
In April, Qatar’s World Cup 2022 organisers denied fresh allegations from US prosecutors of corruption and bribery to win the rights to host the event.
A new US Department of Justice indictment was released which said bribes were paid to football officials to secure their votes.
The indictments, published in a federal court in Brooklyn, accuses media rights handlers and a company from Uruguay of wire fraud.
According to prosecutors, representatives working for Russia and Qatar bribed FIFA executive committee officials to swing votes.
Also, it is well established that women’s rights face legal and societal constraints in Qatar.
There are no laws against domestic violence and no shelters for women.
And drinking alcohol is forbidden.
The Qatar bid will no doubt be well funded and garner support from possibly Russia and China. But Queensland’s bid remains top-notch.
Competition is good. It will sharpen Queensland’s focus.
Winning the 2032 Olympics has now got very real.