Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate reveals poaching plans for 2032 Olympic hockey, rowing and golf

A bold bid to shift Olympic swimming to the Gold Coast is just the start of Tom Tate’s wish list for 2032. See what else he has his eye on.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has his eye on hockey, rowing and golf in addition to swimming and others.

A bold bid to bring Olympic swimming to the Gold Coast is just the tip of a audacious poaching raid with a pitch for hockey, rowing and even golf to relocate to the Glitter Strip in 2032.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate on Monday revealed the city had been in talks with officials from World Aquatics to bring a major international meet to the city’s aquatic centre to serve as proof the venue can, and should, host the 2032 Olympics.

The Courier-Mail can also reveal Mr Tate has outlined a plan to the 2032 review panel – which is just days away from finalising a report to be presented to the State government, to relocate hockey from a temporary set-up at rugby union’s spiritual home of Ballymore in Brisbane to the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, which hosted the sport during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

He also called for Hinze Dam to be considered for the rowing and paddling events while golf could be played at either Royal Pines, Sanctuary Grove or The Grand instead of Royal Queensland, in a venues reshuffle which he said could save Games organisers billions of dollars.

“We’re here to help,” he said.

His plan for the hockey to relocate to the Gold Coast was backed by Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles, who said it was a no-brainer.

The Gold Coast was originally slated to host nine sports, but Mr Tate said the city was perfectly placed to do more of the heavy lifting required to keep the Olympics’ $7.1bn budget under control.

“The hockey centre is a highly successful Comm Games venue the state and council have already invested in,” he said.

“It needs one more synthetic pitch … and a minor lighting upgrade and you will have the best hockey venue in Australia capable of hosting world titles.

Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles

“Why would you even look at a more expensive, temporary venue at Ballymore that most locals don’t want?”

Mr Pryles said a permanent expansion to the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, which could be done for a fraction of the cost of a temporary facility at Ballymore, would give the sport a fantastic Queensland legacy before, during and after the Olympics.

“We haven’t hosted an FIH (Federation of International Hockey) match in Brisbane since 1999 because there isn’t a facility that is fit for purpose and Ballymore does not deliver the sport a legacy,” he said.

“We can start delivering legacy outcomes on the Gold Coast as soon as next year by bringing international matches to the coast.”

Mr Pryles and officials from Hockey Queensland also advocated their support for the Gold Coast proposal during presentations to the 100-day review panel.

It is understood the requested upgrades to the Gold Coast Hockey Centre would cost less than $20 million.

Mr Tate said Hinze Dam, the hinterland reservoir for the Gold Coast, was “an idyllic location that would promote Queensland to a world audience” and would be cheaper than the present preferred location of Wyaralong, between Beaudesert and Boonah more than an hour away from the coast.

He said at least three elite Gold Coast golf courses were superior to Royal Queensland and would not require any upgrades to facilities and stressed his pitch was about delivering the best outcome to the Olympics.

“We have no problem with Brisbane being the main hub and I’m supportive of a new or upgraded stadium and in fact, the Gold Coast can help Brisbane get it.”