Sights set on gold in 2032 Olympics bid at SportAccord summit on Gold Coast

The push to bring the Olympics to Queensland will begin in earnest within weeks as hundreds of the world’s top sports powerbrokers gather on the Gold Coast for a conference.

THE push to bring the Olympics to Queensland will begin in earnest within weeks as hundreds of the world’s top sports powerbrokers gather on the Gold Coast for a conference.

The six-day SportAccord summit presents a perfect chance to promote the strengths of a possible southeast Queensland bid to host the 2032 Games.

It will attract 1800 top administrators and officials from more than 100 international sports federations and associations, including International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and a senior ­delegation.

A feasibility report and masterplan commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors, released this week, found the region has a compelling case to mount a bid for the world’s biggest sporting event.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates. Picture: Getty

“SportAccord 2019 provides our first opportunity to have initial conversations and test the waters with the IOC and international sporting bodies,” Brisbane Lord Mayor and Council of Mayors chairman Graham Quirk said.

He was looking forward to a chance to share the findings of the “innovative and competitive plan” with Mr Bach. He could be joined by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who is still considering the report.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said the timing was perfect.

“SportAccord presents a great opportunity for southeast Queensland, and the Gold Coast in particular, to show off its credentials,” he said.

“It will bring a significant and influential audience to see the region first hand and to understand the enduring legacies of great sporting events such as last year’s Commonwealth Games.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Tourism Minister Kate Jones. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

The feasibility report recommended the State Government prepare an economic assessment of the impact of an Olympics, with the preliminary results to be ready in time for the strategic discussions with Mr Bach.

Queensland has already won nearly $50 million of major events as a result of sending delegation to last year’s SportAccord summit in Thailand and negotiations for several more are ongoing.

“As a direct result of those conversations, Queensland has secured the 2024 Life Saving World Championships on the Gold Coast, the 2019 UCI Track World Cup at the Anna Meares Velodrome, the Tour de Brisbane as part of the UCI Grand Fondo Series, the 2020 World Masters Ultimate Championships on the Gold Coast and, of course, SportAccord 2019,” Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said.

“Combined, these events are forecast to generate 228,000 visitor nights for Queensland and inject $47.7 million into the economy – highlighting the value of events and proving the importance of the legacy left behind by the Commonwealth Games.

“Hosting sporting events is about more than just welcoming the world’s best athletes. These events allows us to showcase our unique tourism offerings and enhance Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s best tourism and events destination,” Ms Jones said.