2032 Olympics: IOC boss urges Queenslanders to back bid
The prospects of a southeast Queensland bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games have been boosted by encouraging comments from the man at the top.
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OLYMPICS chief Thomas Bach has encouraged Queenslanders to “say yes’’ to bringing the world here by hosting the biggest event on the planet.
The International Olympic Committee president, who comes to the state tomorrow, has talked up the strength of a bid for the 2032 Games.
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Mr Bach said the model proposed in a feasibility study prepared for the SEQ Council of Mayors really reflected the movement’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms “by making excellent use of existing facilities” rather than purpose-building new ones.
“This would lead to, I think, a pretty strong candidature,” he said. “The first stage is for the Australians to say, and for the Queenslanders, to say ‘yes we want to be a host to the entire world’.
“That’s the first decision to be taken – yes, we want to host the athletes from all the 206 national Olympic committees.
“If this will is clear, then the reforms of the agenda allow this to coming true.”
Mr Bach, who was speaking after attending the Australian Olympic Committee annual meeting in Sydney, will be in Brisbane tomorrow to discuss a possible 2032 Games bid with new Lord Mayor and SEQ Council of Mayors chairman Adrian Schrinner. He will then hold talks with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the SportAccord conference on the Gold Coast.
Cr Schrinner said he was keen to discuss the IOC’s aims to make future games as close to cost-neutral as possible.
“That’s something that should give all Queenslanders heart because they need to be affordable and they need to leave an infrastructure legacy.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is looking forward to meeting with Olympics chief Thomas Bach this week but is sticking to her guns over the need for the money required to be “justified” before she commits to a formal Games bid.
“If there is to be a successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in South East Queensland, it will require support from all levels of government – local, state and federal – as well as the private sector,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“As I’ve previously said, any decision to stage a bid will be on the basis that the investment is justified and in the best interests of all of Queensland.”
Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates threw down the gauntlet to governments to fix southeast Queensland’s transport woes if they want to secure the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. “SEQ is well positioned to make a compelling case, but only if there is significant improvement in the region’s transport infrastructure, including rail.
“This is not something that is Games-driven. If not fixed, there will be gridlock well before 2032,” he said.
The State Government has yet to decide its position on a bid. Cr Schrinner said the Premier was active in attracting international movie productions here to showcase the state. “The Olympic Games is the equivalent of the biggest movie of all time in promoting Queensland to the world. I’m confident she will see the advantage of this opportunity if it can be delivered in a cost-effective manner.”
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