Premier announces Queensland to bid for 2032 Olympic Games

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has called upon Prime Minister Scott Morrison to back Queensland’s bid for the 2032 Olympics, saying they are “critical” and present significant tourism and job opportunities.

QUEENSLAND will go for the 2032 Olympics, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk finally saying the numbers stack up in favour of a bid.

Presented with a cost-benefit analysis that says the whole of Queensland will secure an extra 129,000 jobs in the lead up to the Games, State Cabinet backed the bid.

The announcement clears the way for the other three members of the 2032 Games leadership group – the Federal Government, local councils and the Australian Olympic Committee – to get on with the bid that centres on Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts but includes events in Townsville, Cairns and the Whitsundays.

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Ms Palaszczuk said her government would pursue holding the Games if the Federal and local governments provide financial support.

“This is about so much more than a few weeks of sport,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Hosing the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics could be a game changers and deliver 20 years of accelerated opportunity for our State.

“That’s why cabinet has today made the decision to continue working towards securing a Games – and we will continue to work closely with out partners to ensure we receive the financial support we require from all levels of Government.

“There’s more work to do to ensure we are in a position to put a compelling case to the International Olympic Committee.”

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese backed the Palaszczuk Government’s bid for the 2032 Olympics and called on the Morrison Government to support the “exciting proposal”.

“This is critical,” he said.

“This is going to provide potentially 130,000 jobs, it will create jobs in construction in the lead up to the games if the bid is successful, but also of course significant tourism opportunities, not just while the Olympics would be held but on an ongoing basis.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the next stage of the process was the candidature stage from January to June.

During that time, key venues including the athletics stadium, athletes village and media centre would be bedded down, as well as what transport was needed, she said.

For the athletics stadium, the Government are looking at transforming Albion Park or upgrading Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Gabba and Brisbane River were being considered for the opening ceremony.

Townsville Stadium may host a whole week of preliminary soccer finals, sailing would be held at the Whitsundays, mountain bike riding and other soccer games could be held in Cairns, volleyball could be hosted overlooking the ocean at Broadbeach Park with temporary seating, and Coomera’s indoor sports centre could host gymnastics.

Albion Park is in the running to become the athletics stadium if the Games bid is successful.

Questioned over costings, the Premier said the exact costings would be worked out between July and December next year.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity to host something like this but we have to get it right,” she said.

Bids for the 2032 Olympics are due in 2021, with a decision due either that year or the next.

Ms Palaszczuk said there would be financial agreements between the state, federal and local governments before moving on to building a winning candidature file to present to Olympics bosses ahead of the Tokyo Games next year.

“The world’s greatest event provides a platform like no other,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase Queensland to the rest of the world.

“Hosting around 11,000 athletes from 206 countries, and an estimated television audience of 3.2 billion people would see the world watching Queensland at its best.

“Queensland’s climate and world-class facilities provide an ideal environment for elite athletes to train and perform at their best, but it also has the ability to motivate our communities to participate in sport and lead a healthier lifestyle.”

The leadership group will meet on Wednesday where they are expected to formally agree to back a bid.

AOC president John Coates welcomed the announcement by the Premier, saying sport in Queensland and Australia would be super-charged if Queensland hosts the Games.

“We have a lot of work to do from here, but it’s hard not to be excited about the benefits that will flow over many decades if Queensland was successful.

“This is not about a few weeks of sport. It’s about a decade of opportunity for sport, the community and the economy, leading into the Games - and for decades after. But now we have to focus on ensuring Queensland mounts a compelling case.

The Olympics could deliver billions of dollars to the Queensland economy. Picture: Peter Wallis

Mr Coates said the cost-benefit analysis meant State Cabinet had the information it needed to back the Games.

“Quite rightly, this was not a decision to be taken in haste. However, we now have the Federal Government, the Queensland Government, the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (COMSEQ) and the AOC joined at the hip to take a Queensland candidature forward.

“We know the business community recognises the economic benefits that will flow, but it is vitally important that the community is kept fully informed.

“Critical to that, is an understanding that hosting an Olympic Games these days is a very different beast. The days of the white elephant are gone thanks to sweeping changes made by the International Olympic Committee.”

“The New Norm changes announced in 2018 ensure future hosts use existing facilities or temporary facilities. If there’s a lasting sport and community benefit, then new facilities can play a part, but the focus is on delivering a Games that is cost effective and flexible.

“And we learned this year that the IOC would contribute US$1.8 billion towards the operating costs of the Games effectively ensuring the Games would be cost-neutral.”

As revealed by The Courier-Mail today, the majority of the new jobs will be in construction, tourism and retail, with economists predicting a $10 billion cash splash by international tourists in areas like the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, the Whitsundays, Far North Queensland and the Outback.

Market research obtained by The Courier-Mail shows 75 per cent of regional Queenslanders support a Games bid, once they learned the IOC will contribute a whopping $2.5 billion to the cost.

The window now opens for SEQ 2032 to get their proposal in front of the IOC at the Tokyo Games next year.

A final decision would not be made until 2021 or 2022, but experts say moving fast and enthusiastically adds momentum to SEQ’s chances.

The Federal Government welcomed the state move, with Sport Minister Richard Colbeck and the Prime Minister’s representative for a 2032 Olympic Games Ted O’Brien saying they were delighted the Queensland Government was finally locked in to bid.

The Federal Government committed to the bid earlier in the year, committing up to $10 million to progress the bid process.

“The real value for Queensland, and for Australia, is not just those couple of weeks when the eyes of the world are on us, but the decades of positive legacy,” Mr O’Brien said.

“If we are successful in our bid for 2032 it will give us a decade long run-up to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure, improve health and wellbeing, boost tourism and trade, build grassroots and high performance sports and so forth, and this legacy will last for generations.

“But we’re not there yet.

“Well done to the Queensland Government for making the right decision; now let’s get on with it.”