Brisbane 2032 Games: Annastacia Palaszczuk takes pitch to Townsville
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will on Friday pitch the economic benefits of Brisbane 2032 to 180 Townsville business leaders, as the Games board hosts its first meeting outside the southeast corner.
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Premier and Olympics Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk will on Friday pitch the economic benefits of Brisbane 2032 to 180 Townsville business leaders, as the Games board hosts its first meeting outside the southeast corner.
Set to address leaders in the North Queensland city on Friday, the Premier will spruik the flow-on tourism and business opportunities from the first ever “regional Games”, and encourage locals to discover how they can reap the rewards.
Townsville is a key co-host of the Games in nine years’ time, with the city’s North Queensland Stadium set to hold football matches and potentially be used for pre-Games athlete training.
Ms Palaszczuk, who first pushed for the new venue before she was elected in 2015, said the stadium had already attracted 800,000 spectators and brought an estimated $148m into the city since it opened in 2020.
“I’m so pleased to join the OCOG Board in Townsville to showcase all of the advantages this great city will enjoy from this once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.
“Regional Queensland has provided some of our greatest Olympians and Paralympians. Cathy Freeman, Anna Meares and Townsville’s own Nat Cook are just a few Olympic medallists with Darren Thrupp, Dave Nicholas and Rheed McCracken among the many para-athletes.
“Add to those names the more than 4500 young people from Cunnamulla to Cooktown who have tried out in our Youfor2032 talent search, and you can see the excitement building for 2032.”
The BOCOG has toured the stadium while in Townsville, and will meet with First Nations peoples and take part in a sports session with Olympians, Paralympians and young local athletes
“Townsville is one of the key cities and regions across Queensland and Australia that will not only co-host the Games, but benefit economically and socially in the lead up, during and after the Games,” Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said.
“Combining a world-class stadium, attracting some of the biggest national and international events and artists, with a welcoming and vibrant community, city and climate, Townsville and the surrounding region has boundless opportunities to attract the best sporting talent, investment and tourism as we progress towards 2032.”
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the visit from the BOCOG was “an opportunity to understand what this will mean not just for our region, but for the broader northwest of the state”.
“The Queensland Government has made it clear the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are to be the games for all Queenslanders,” she said.
“Townsville offers a vast range of natural assets and sporting infrastructure that could be enhanced with equitable investment to not only support the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane, but further strengthen our ability to sustain the development of athletes from remote and regional communities.
“We understand the mammoth task faced in Southeast Queensland to prepare for these Games, and also recognise the importance of regional centres such as Townsville being well equipped to welcome visiting athletes prior to and during the Games, and the strong possibility of hosting key events in our city.”
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