Logan may become home to Olympic boxing if Brisbane succeeds with bid for Games

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk brought her Cabinet to Logan this morning and unveiled plans that could see Logan rise to centre ring as an Olympic Boxing arena.

Former WBO welterweight titleholder Jeff Horn, who was a Logan high school teacher, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year. Pic Annette Dew

LOGAN could become the home of Olympic boxing should the 2032 Olympic Games come to Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement at a community Cabinet meeting at the Logan TAFE campus this morning.

The Premier said the state was still deciding whether it could afford to host the Olympics with a decision expected by early next year.

In the meantime, she said, the state was scouring Logan for appropriate sites for a boxing arena.

LOGAN’S 2032 OLYMPIC BID

“We would need a hall the same size as the one like we have at Coomera, if we could have a similar structure here in Logan wouldn’t that be wonderful?” she said.

“This would bring great pride to the city and also be a great legacy of having that infrastructure for the students and the community to use for many generations to come.

“This would be a marvellous opportunity for Logan especially for the young people if we can make this happen.”

Although the cost to host the Olympics in Queensland was unknown, it is believed the IOC has already promised funding to the tune of more than $1 billion.

The Premier said the flow-on effects both before and after the Games for Logan would be tremendous.

But she said if Queensland were successful and won the 2032 Olympics, events would be held at venues across the state so all regions would benefit.

Former WBO Welterweight titleholder and ex Logan high school teacher Jeff Horn praised the move.

“There are plenty of reasons that Logan would be a great spot for a boxing stadium but the big issue would be whether it actually stacks up financially,” he said.

“It would be great for the young kids who could see all their sporting heroes in Logan, which would allow kids to see that you can make it big if you train hard and take a professional attitude.

“I have no idea where such a facility would be located in Logan but if it were built from scratch it could work.”

Boxer Jeff Horn with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke about the Olympics earlier this year. PHOTO: Adam Head

Ms Palaszczuk will go to Lausanne in the first week in September to meet IOC officials, who changed the rules to allow a region to host the Games.

Before then, she will meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Cairns on Thursday to discuss Queensland’s Olympic bid.

She met Olympic officials including Thomas Bach, who praised a preliminary feasibility study into Queensland hosting the Olympics in March.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Logan City Council has also contributed $115,000 and participated in discussions for the feasibility study since May last year.

If the state’s Olympic bid goes ahead, Logan would be in the running to host BMX events as well as boxing.

In March, council approved a $3.1 million upgrade to its BMX facility at Beenleigh’s Doug Larsen Park.

While in Logan today, the premier also visited Loganlea TAFE College to meet international students from China visiting Marsden State High School.

Marsden State High School principal Andrew Peach takes a photo of the Premier and Education Minister Grace Grace and students at the school this morning.

Marsden students who are undertaking certificate courses will graduate with qualifications.

Marsden High has the fourth highest number of students undertaking a Vocational Educational Training course program in Queensland.

It gives high school graduates a qualification when they leave school.

Under a new state-run program, Year 12 graduates will be eligible to undertake study across 172 courses for free in the 12 months after they leave school.

Training Minister Shannon Fentiman, whose electorate covers parts of Logan, said $32 million would provide around 60,000 free apprenticeships over the next four years.

“That means local Logan businesses looking to take on an apprentice or trainee will now have all training costs removed across 139 qualifications,” she said.

“The free courses are in the high priority areas where there will be jobs so in Logan this will mean jobs in construction, plumbing, electrical as well as non-trade areas such as health, hairdressing and beauty and hospitality.

“And any young people under 21, regardless of graduating from school, will be eligible to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship across 139 courses.”

This afternoon, she will visit the site of the state’s newest high school, Yarrabilba College and check out the progress of the Logan hospital expansion with Health Minister Steven Miles.