Premier in talks to bring 2032 Olympics to Queensland

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is buoyant about the prospects of a Queensland 2032 Olympic bid after holding talks on the Gold Coast with the president of the International Olympic Committee.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is buoyant about the prospects of a Queensland Olympic bid after holding high-powered talks with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on the Gold Coast.

Ms Palaszczuk held lengthy discussions with Mr Bach and Australia’s own Olympic boss John Coates after the opening ceremony of the SportAccord summit on Tuesday night and yesterday described the meeting as ‘inspiring’.

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She said Mr Bach was very impressed with Queensland’s ability to host big-time sports events, which bode well for any future bid for the 2032 Olympics.

“I was pleasantly surprised how enthusiastic he was about Queensland,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with IOC President Thomas Bach and Australian Olympic chief John Coates on the Gold Coast.

“The fact that we delivered perhaps the most successful Commonwealth Games ever held and our enthusiasm for sport certainly impressed him.

“The conversation last night was inspiring.”

But it’s not just the Olympics that could come from the SportAccord being hosted in Queensland, with a push for the Gold Coast to host a round of the Red Bull Air Race.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said she hoped to secure up to $100 million worth of events as a result of hosting the international summit.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was still early days ahead of any potential Olympics bid, which would have to include more parts of the state than just the southeast to benefit all of Queensland.

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In particular, Ms Palaszczuk wants to know if the IOC would relax some stipulations surrounding venue capacity to avoid creating a legacy of behemoth white elephants.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and his predecessor Graham Quirk have also met with Mr Bach during his Queensland visit.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has been unwavering in his stance not to commit any ratepayer funds to a bid, but yesterday conceded the council would be open to building some temporary stadiums to house events on the Glitter Strip.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Gold Coast would be a logical choice to host an Olympic surfing competition, with the sport to make its debut in Tokyo next year, while the beach volleyball would also be a perfect fit.

Spectacular Gold Coast weather has delivered a picture-perfect sales pitch to the 30-plus IOC delegates on the Glitter Strip for the SportAccord, a gathering of world sport’s biggest brands and governing bodies.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday delivered a passionate address about the healing powers of sport, referring to the stirring image of North and South Korean athletes marching side-by-side under one flag at last year’s Winter Olympics.

A joint-North and South Korea bid could be a major competitor for any Brisbane bid for the 2032 Olympics.