Millennials lead support for 2032 Olympic Games in southeast Queensland

An exclusive statewide poll reveals young voters lead the strong support for a southeast Queensland bid to host the 2032 Olympics.

MORE than half of Millennials want to see a southeast Queensland bid to stage the Olympic Games, an exclusive new poll shows.

The YouGov Galaxy survey for The Courier-Mail reveals backing for a push to host the 2032 event here is strongest among those aged 18 to 34 at 55 per cent.

The first Queensland-wide poll shows 45 per cent support a bid, and 16 per cent are undecided, with just 27 per cent opposed.

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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said it must be a games for the whole state.

“That’s a very good result,” Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said. “This is before we have fully explained a bid to the public.

“It is important they understand that the Games can be done in a very cost-effective way. The Tokyo Games (in 2020) will pay for itself and that’s the aim.”

Proud Queenslander and tennis star Ash Barty would love to see the state host the 2032 Olympics. Picture: Annette Dew

Brisbane Lord Mayor and SEQ Council of Mayors chairman Adrian Schrinner welcomed the results.

“It’s encouraging that so many Queenslanders can already see the potential of a Games so early in our investigations.

“Tourism supports thousands of jobs across the region and a southeast Queensland Olympic Games would showcase our state to millions of viewers across the world.”

Cr Schrinner said International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach’s enthusiasm for the area was pleasing.

“Queensland is clearly building an international reputation for delivering successful, world-class sporting events – and there is none bigger than the Olympic Games.

“If we can deliver a cost-effective bid that returns real benefits to Queenslanders, it would be a missed opportunity to not at least consider the possibilities of a southeast Queensland Olympic Games.”

Rising Queensland tennis star Ash Barty, 22, said: “It would be fantastic if Queensland could host the Olympics in 2032.

“I’m a proud Queenslander and think it is the best place in the world! The possibility of competing in a home Games with an Aussie crowd would be a dream for me and other local athletes.”

Millennials now make up the largest demographic group. Generation X is somewhat less enthusiastic, with 41 per cent believing an Olympic tilt should go ahead, but support rises again to 46 per cent among Baby Boomers.

A bid would be expected to have the support of the Federal Government, no matter which party wins the election.

Labor leader Bill Shorten told The Courier-Mail: “You’ve got to have a bit of hope and you’ve got to think about things.

“I like it when communities want to think big. You’ve always got to weigh up the cost of things and Olympics seem to get mixed reactions after cities have had them but I certainly think the door is not closed on it. You want to see the facts.

“I don’t have a little Australia view of this, I think we should be showcasing our dreams and our capacities.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office did not respond yesterday but he previously said the Coalition would be “willing participants’’ in any SEQ bid.

“We’ll always get behind events that stack up that put Australia on the world stage.”