Queensland Olympics 2032: Everything you need to know
Why is Queensland bidding for the Olympic Games, what will it cost and will there be white elephant stadiums like some other host cities? Here are your questions answered.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Queensland has announced it plans to bid for the Olympic Games in 2032.
Here are the answers to your questions on the bid, and why it’s a great opportunity for Queensland.
1 Why should Queensland host the Olympic Games?
THE IOC’s recent reforms, and favorable circumstances in Queensland would make it possible to host the Games at relatively low cost, using existing venues and only building new infrastructure if there is a clear ongoing community need for it before and/or after the Games. Queensland ticks all the boxes and hosting the Olympic Games in 2032, like no other initiative, would provide a minimum 20-year platform (10 years before and 10 years after) to create jobs, attract investment and talent, boost tourism, and enhance and showcase Queensland and our lifestyle and people to the world. The Games offers a similar landmark place-defining opportunity for SEQ as Expo provided for Brisbane in 1988.
2 What will it cost?
SOME investment will obviously be necessary to stage the Games. However, the operating costs for the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been reduced significantly by the IOC’s “new norm” which has created flexibility and reduced requirements for hosts. The IOC has also continued to enjoy significant growth in its revenues. TV network NBC has already committed US$2.3 billion for the US broadcast rights all the way up to 2032. IOC President Thomas Bach has confirmed the IOC would contribute not less than US$1.8 billion to a SEQ Games. This contribution together with conservative domestic commercial revenue projections, would cover the estimated operating cost for the Games.
There will still be a need to absorb costs of some state services for operational costs like policing and emergency services to host the Games. Current estimates have them pegged at lower levels than the equivalent services cost for Sydney in 2000. State-wide Games festivals and legacy programs will also require funding.
SEQ’s growth over the next two decades will require significant new infrastructure (like public transport), much of which can be put to use for the Games. This is not a Games-related cost. Hosting the Games would also provide an opportunity for Queensland to do some things that were going to be done anyway, but will be done sooner or a little differently to enable the Games. This could include other planned transport infrastructure; maintenance and modernisation of existing stadiums; affordable housing (that could be used for for Games Villages); the Brisbane Arena (Brisbane Live); community indoor sports facilities.
No venues would be built that were not clearly required to meet the needs of the growing SEQ community.
3 How can we be sure that we will not end up with white elephant Olympic stadiums?
SEQ is fortunate to enjoy a wide range of existing sports facilities. There are others already in the pipeline which will be developed whether the Games come to Australia or not. No venues would be built that were not clearly required to meet the needs of the growing SEQ community. Some of those would be community indoor facilities that would be temporarily refitted with spectator seating for the Games. The Coomera Indoor Sports Centre built for the 2018 Commonwealth Games is a good example.
4 What’s in it for Queensland?
HOSTING the Olympic and Paralympic Games would not be just about a few weeks of sport – however exciting that would be. Being a Games host is at least a 20 year opportunity – ten years before and another decade afterwards. By 2041, SEQ will be larger than Sydney is today. Our transport infrastructure and housing supply will need to be boosted significantly if we are going to protect the lifestyle that we all treasure. The opportunity to host an Olympic Games – on the right terms – may be the only venture with the scale to get all the necessary parties working together for Queensland and Australia.
Queensland a frontrunner for 2032 Olympic Games under ‘New Norm’ reforms
Premier announces Queensland to bid for 2032 Olympic Games
Jobs bonanza promised in lead up to a Queensland 2032 Olympics
The types of legacy benefit opportunities include:
1. Transport infrastructure to meet the demand that anticipated population and economic growth will generate over the next 10 years.
2. Regional connectivity to enable the tourism experiences of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast to be marketed more collectively.
3. A uniquely powerful global tourism marketing platform. It’s forecast to deliver more than $20b of new overnight visitor expenditure, and $10bn in economic impact from additional international tourists by 2036. 50% would disperse to the regions.
4. Strong state-wide benefits and opportunities. For example, with some $3bn in Games products and services estimated to be required, most of this will be procured from Queensland companies. (For the Commonwealth Games, 90% of Games requirements were sourced in Queensland; for London 2012, 98% of their GBP5bn requirements were sourced in the UK – almost half from outside London).
5. Community sport, recreation and lifestyle facilities and urban planning to maintain and enhance our active lifestyle.
6. A two-decade opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders.
7. Two decades of acceleration for the State’s economic development, particularly into high-value knowledge-based sectors that will create tomorrow’s jobs and skills, attract talent and generate billions in export dollars.
5 Where would the competition venues be?
THE Brisbane River and the Gabba have been mooted as possible opening ceremony venues, with television screens lining the riverbank. If the main stadium is built at Albion, it would also be a contender. The current plan for a 2032 Games in Queensland includes three compact connected “zones”.
They are in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Eighty per cent of venues are existing or will be temporary and existing sites are available. All additional venues have a defined legacy need.
An Olympic Village, International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre will be located in Brisbane. Townsville and Cairns could host soccerpreliminaries, and keel boat sailing could showcase Hamilton Island and the Whitsundays. Comprehensive whole-of-Queensland activities are anticipated through pre-Games training and trial competitions, as well as Games festivals and torch relay participation.
6 What new transport infrastructure will be required for the Games?
WHILE no new transport infrastructure is proposed for the Games, the Games will be enabled by new transport infrastructure that will be required to service the increasing demands of the rapidly-growing community.
Hosting the Games can provide the catalyst for this infrastructure to be delivered on time by 2032. Current Games planning makes some reasonable indicative assumptions about potential regional road, rail, public and active transport infrastructure that could be delivered by 2032.
7 How does the community feel about the 2032 Olympic bid?
THERE is a high level of community support across the whole state. A May 2019 YouGov Galaxy survey undertaken exclusively for The Courier-Mail found overall support across Queensland for a bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games has grown to 65 per cent – up from 56 per cent in October 2018. Opposition has fallen from 34 per cent to just 25 per cent, with 10 per cent remaining uncommitted.
A ReachTel poll commissioned by SEQ Mayors in April 2019 indicated that 72 per cent of south-east Queensland residents would support the region bidding for the 2032 Olympics if the bid led to accelerated delivery of transport infrastructure. Research in regional Queensland indicates that community sentiment towards the Games is already positive, and it grows significantly once the IOC’s contribution and cost savings are understood.
8 Where to from here?
YESTERDAY’S Cabinet decision is an important step. The next stage is to agree detailed financing arrangements between the three levels of government. This will align with the City Deal dialogue that is on track for June 2020.
In the meantime, engagement with the IOC and other international Games stakeholders will continue. The schedule associated with the new Olympic host candidature process has not yet been finalised, but it is possible the 2032 Games may be awarded as early as 2021 or 2022.
9What would our Games be called?
TRADITIONALLY, the Games have been named after the main host city, even if events are spread across a wider location. But changes to IOC rules mean regions can be named as hosts, so the Games could in theory retain its SEQ 2032 working title.
But it is ultimately a decision based on what gives Brisbane and Queensland the best marketing return.
Aussie swimmer reveals surprising regret
A swimmer has shared why after taking home gold she’s getting her Olympic tattoo removed.
How $75 can get you a shot at an Olympic gold medal
Emelia Surch is the best kept secret in Australian sport – and good judges rate her a genuine medal chance at the LA Games in four years time. And a radical funding plan could give the public a shot at sharing in her Olympic dream.