Queensland’s future in wake of coronavirus depends on securing 2032 Olympics
Now is not the time to squander this rarest of golden opportunities. Looking the Olympics gift horse in the mouth would be an abrogation of our political and economic destiny, writes Peter Gleeson.
Opinion
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AS we begin the long haul back to post-COVID prosperity, now is the time to ramp up Queensland’s bid for the hosting rights to the 2032 Olympics.
Our future depends upon it. As Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said last week: “I have always believed in making necessity a virtue. We believe a 2032 Olympics in Australia is a critical part of this state and nation’s economic recovery in the short term, quite apart from all the long term health, wellbeing, economic and sporting legacies.’’
Coates, nearly always, is right. Australia’s post-COVID economic renaissance depends upon many variables, including changes to the dynamic of our taxation, industrial relations, infrastructure and trade sectors.
Now is not the time to squander this rarest of golden opportunities. Looking the Olympics gift horse in the mouth would be an abrogation of our political and economic destiny.
Queensland thrives on our indomitable, never say die attitude. Hosting an Olympics in Queensland would be an exclamation mark on how the Sunshine State has matured.
In this ever changing and uncertain global environment, it is rare indeed for any country to have a reputation like ours for economic and political stability.
We are a sports-loving nation which prides itself on our free and open lifestyle, our commitment to democracy and the principles of diversity and gender equity.
These are important characteristics for the International Olympic Committee as it weighs up those countries championing a 2032 Olympic bid.
The IOC has an in-depth understanding of what Queensland brings to the table.
With the Palaszczuk Government rightly placing its emphasis on trying to control the health implications of the coronavirus pandemic, the Olympic bid has been put on hold.
But as we continue to flatten the curve – and produce spectacular results in curbing the pandemic numbers – attention is justifiably shifting to the fiscal renaissance required to get Queensland’s economy back on track.
The fact that Queensland has been as good as any province in the world at containing the virus has not been lost on IOC top brass.
This is a reflection of our world class healthcare system and our commitment to planning and putting the lives of our people at the forefront of decision-making. It reaffirms to the IOC that we deliver on what we promise. We get things done.
The IOC also knows that the stadiums will be filled and most importantly, the emphasis will be on the wellbeing and protection of the athletes.
Of course, as you’d expect, those in the regions are cynical. They are being told this is a southeast Queensland stitch up, that will cost taxpayers billions of dollars and they’ll get diddly squat in return.
Not true. The IOC’s new operating model means the 2032 Olympics will cost Queensland taxpayers nothing. In fact, we may even get a dividend, which is what Los Angeles in 2028 is planning.
Nearly 85 per cent of existing facilities are built. The big ticket items like a new mega stadium and athletes village will be paid for by the IOC.
The rest of the cost of staging the Olympics will be recouped through TV broadcasting rights, ticket sales and sponsorship deals.
Don’t believe me? The contract with the host city uses the term “cost neutrality’’ 17 times. That means under the new IOC paradigm, the host city breaks at least square.
There are also obvious, tangible benefits for regional Queensland that the doomsayers won’t talk about. There will be events held in regions such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Rockhampton, Townsville, Toowoomba and Cairns.
Countries will base their teams in regional parts of Queensland in the months leading up to the Olympics, meaning an influx of visitors.
What of the people who flock to Queensland to see the Olympics from other countries? You don’t think they’ll take the opportunity to stay a few weeks extra and explore our beautiful Sunshine State?
And what about the long-term visibility and exposure of Queensland to the billions of people watching around the world? The tourism spin-offs are incalculable.
Queensland hosting the Olympics in 2032 is the greatest political no-brainer of our lifetime. Anybody opposing it should be deported and forced to take an IQ test.
The reality for Queensland is that we are in the box seat, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has struck an enduring relationship with IOC boss Thomas Bach.
They like our bid. With the hosting of this event even now more critical to our long-term future, it is up to our Queensland Olympic taskforce to ram home that advantage.
With Tokyo put back a year and a decision on the 2032 host country now not likely until early 2022, it gives us extra time to let them know we’re ready, willing and able to host the biggest dance of them all.