Why QLD as preferred 2032 Olympic candidate benefits Mackay

The International Olympic Committee has been most impressed by the state’s bid. Here’s how Mackay is ready to take advantage

Mayor Greg Williamson gives 14-year-old Bayley Sleeman the all-clear to take the first dive into the 50m pool at the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex, which is expected to open in March.

Mackay is primed to benefit from Brisbane being rubber-stamped as the preferred candidate to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queensland capital was named the preferred candidate by the International Olympic Committee that studied proposals from several nations.

IOC president Thomas Bach made the announcement at a press conference in Switzerland on Thursday morning.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said the region was ready to take advantage of the influx in sports tourism with ample accommodation and infrastructure ready to host pre-event training.

"We have a minimum of 300 days of clear training weather a year and a proven track record of hosting state and national level events," Cr Williamson said

"In 2021, skateboarding is being added as an Olympic sport and mountain biking is now an established Olympic cycling category.

Qld Champion Jesse Brodbeck at the Mackay Sugar Bowl.

"Our region constructed a competition skating facility in 2018, Sugar Bowl Mackay, which already attracts national and international competitors.

"As for mountain biking, council is currently finalising land acquisitions for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails, which will deliver 100km of international-standard mountain bike track across 11 individual trails.

Cameron Mellifont races around the burb at Rowallan Park, 2017. Picture: File

"On top of that, we also have Rowallan Park close to town, which has had significant upgrades in recent years and now hosts international-class mountain biking events."

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Cr Williamson said the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex was built to Olympic-standard and had been very favourably reviewed by Olympic swimmers from St Peter's Western Swim Club.

"The ARC's athletic facilities are also of international-standard," he said.

"It has a synthetic track with a nine-lane front straight, eight-lane 400m track and eight-lane back straight, plus all of the other track and field facilities for throwing events and long, high and triple jump."

And he said the region had invested considerably in shooting and BMX facilities and the major sporting stadiums were regularly upgraded.

BB Print Stadium. Picture: Tony Martin

"Our BB Print Stadium Mackay hosted international rugby games last year and our McDonald's Mackay Multi-Sports Stadium hosted the Opals basketball team for Commonwealth Games training and also offers excellent netball facilities," he said.

"We will be working closely with the State Government and local sporting clubs as 2032 draws closer to maximise the benefit these games will have for our region."

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Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the government was in ongoing dialogue with the IOC.

Mrs Gilbert said the games presented exciting economic and cultural opportunities for the Mackay Whitsundays region.

"Attracting domestic and international visitors would be a boon for local businesses and our economy," Mrs Gilbert said.

"It would also give locals the opportunity to witness elite athletes compete at the highest level of their sport which could spur on our future local sporting stars.

"The statewide approach to hosting the Olympic Games could deliver a 20-year opportunity for all of Queensland, supporting up to 130,000 direct jobs, billions-of-dollars in overnight international visitor expenditure and economic benefit for businesses around the state."

Originally published as Why QLD as preferred 2032 Olympic candidate benefits Mackay