Brisbane 2032: Sydney Games guru slams lack of vision over venues, calls for private sector involvement

The man behind the 2000 Olympics has taken aim at the lack of vision over Brisbane’s Games venue plans, pleading for “common sense”.

The guru behind Sydney’s 2000 Olympics has taken aim at the lack of vision over Brisbane’s Games venue plans, pushing the politicians to partner with the private sector and take a “common sense” approach.

Speaking on 4BC, the chief executive of Sydney’s successful bid, Rod McGeoch, said there was “no need to panic” – but also said key to Sydney’s success was the “leadership was strong enough to keep the whole matter impartial”.

“The idea was that then the community would 100 per cent be behind it – and I still think you can do that [in Brisbane] with the right kind of leadership, and the right messaging,” he said.

Rod McGeoch with his Sydney 2000 Olympic torch. Picture: John Appleyard

The chief executive of Sydney’s successful bid, Rod McGeoch. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

In reference to Premier Steven Miles’ decision to reject the findings of an independent review to build a new stadium at Victoria Park to serve the city in the coming decades – and instead upgrade the ageing Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre – Mr McGeoch said any plans needed to look long-term.

“Why would anybody think that a 16-day sporting event should pay for a piece of sporting infrastructure that you’re going to have for 50 years,” he said.

“We opened the Sydney Olympic Stadium in 1997 – 27 years later the thing looks basically new.

“This visitor economy in Sydney last year was worth $47bn. So when somebody baulks at a stadium costing $2bn to $3bn … let’s think about the visitor economy in a much bigger way. “Perth has a 65,000-seat stadium, Adelaide 60,000, Melbourne 100,000, Sydney 85,000 – why would the city baulk at something where you might have 60,000 seats and instead start to think in terms of something that will hold 40,000.”

An aerial view of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Stadium, which had a capacity of 115,000 during the Games and continues to host major events with an 85,000 capacity.

Speaking on the 10-year runway Brisbane had been given in the lead up to hosting the 2032 Games – as opposed to Sydney’s seven – Mr McGeoch said there was “plenty of time”.

“We had our Olympic stadium ready in 1997 – we started with a seven-year span and we built the thing in four years,” he said.

“We built the Aquatic Centre on time, so I’m not at all concerned that Brisbane has got itself into a problem that it can’t solve.”

But he also urged for more consideration to be given to partnering with private enterprise, instead of taxpayers footing the entire bill.

A revamped Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre stadium could have a capacity of just 40,000 for the 2032 Games under current plans.

“We got the Olympic Stadium for nothing (because of the private enterprise deal),” he said. “Next door is the 18,000-seat arena, built for private enterprise for nothing in exchange for a 30-year management agreement.

“Over the road, the 10,000 (capacity) athletes’ Olympics village – built for nothing.

“So in other words, you can do deals with private enterprise that they will put these things up at their cost, in return for management agreements or whatever else.

“Doesn’t mean the government doesn’t own them – they’re built on government land.

“We got all of those venues for nothing – now why can’t you do that again?”