Tokyo 2020: Premier will ‘not offend anyone’ with Opening Ceremony invitation

Acting Premier Steven Miles says Annastacia Palaszczuk should attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics after a stunning press conference intervention from Australian Olympics boss John Coates. POLL

Acting Premier Steven Miles says Ms Palaszczuk should attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics while downplaying the extraordinary press conference exchange between the Premier and Mr Coates.

Mr Miles said the IOC had granted Brisbane one of the world’s biggest honours.

“The chance to host the world’s biggest event and I think what the Premier has said was that she never intended to offend them or offend anyone and I think given what they’ve said and what John Coates has said I think she should go,” he said.

Asked about the exchange, Mr Miles said Mr Coates and Ms Palaszczuk were close.

“They have a very strong relationship,” he said.

“I think what you saw was just how strongly the IOC feel about the opening ceremony.

“I think there’s a pretty robust relationship there between the Premier and John Coates and what was said reflects the way they were feeling about that matter.

“Having heard what they had to say … that’s a pretty strong perspective.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates. Pics Adam Head

Earlier, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would do what she was told regarding the event.

The Premier had previously emphatically declared she would not attend any events at the Tokyo Olympics, saying she was in Japan solely to win the Games for Brisbane.

However Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates made a stunning intervention in a late night press conference on Wednesday, telling Ms Palaszczuk she would attend to “learn” about how major global events operate”.

This morning the Premier acknowledged there was an expectation she would be at the Opening Ceremony.

“I’m not going to be offending anyone and John Coates was laying down the law last night,” Ms Palaszczuk told ABC Brisbane.

“I am just going to do what John Coates said … there is an expectation now that all three of us will attend.

“If that’s what they say I am not going to offend anyone.”

Adrian Schrinner will be attending the opening ceremony.

Annastacia Palaszczuk said she will never forget the moment when they announced Brisbane would host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I have the biggest smile you could possibly imagine… I am just over the moon, it was phenomenal,” the Premier said on ABC radio.

“

Everyone should have the day off, we have the world’s biggest event and it is coming to our hometown.”

“I was just so proud for Queensland, we have done this and we can do anything.”

“It has been years and months leading up to this moment and there has been so much work done over the years.”

She said the three main things that helped Queensland get over the line were 80 per cent of the infrastructure was already built, the three levels of Government working together and Queensland’s world class venues.

“It’s cost neutral for the operating side of the games and of course we have the agreement with the Federal Government.”