What got our 2032 Olympic Games bid over the line

Great weather and venues, and multi-level government support have all played key roles in getting the Brisbane bid over the line with the IOC, but it was the people of Queensland that had the biggest impact. Here’s why.

Queensland’s passionate sports fans helped secure the critical step to preferred candidate for the 2032 Olympics, according to the IOC report into the Brisbane push to win the Games.

The IOC has been quietly running the ruler of Brisbane and Queensland for the past few months as it scrutinised the region for the Olympics and Paralympics.

It found more than two-thirds of Brisbane residents backed the Games, with similar support outside the capital (64 per cent) and across Australia (66 per cent) according to the poll conducted on its behalf last month.

Brisbane also won them over with the promise of good weather, no need for a referendum to get the Games through all three levels of government and that between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of venues already existed or could be temporary.

Rugby league might not be a Games event, but Queenslanders’ love of sport was a major factor in getting the bid over the line. (Image/Josh Woning)

Everything, even down to the weather and average temperatures in July and August and the effect of climate change (21.8C in the 2000s projected to rise to 23.7C in 2050s) when the Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for 2032, were weighed in the balance by the Future Host Commission.

As well as “knowledgeable fans and experienced venue operators and workforce” we have “a strong Olympic tradition and very good experience in organising and hosting major international sport events,” the report found.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and AOC President John Coates after the International Olympic Committee's Future Host Summer Commission designated Brisbane as the "preferred candidate city" to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Brisbane also benefited from the happy reputation of the Sydney 2000 Games, Australia’s participation in every modern Olympics and the promise of future transport and public facility improvements.

An audit of hotel rooms found the Games need for 42,000 two- to five-star rooms could be found with 20,000 in both Brisbane and the Gold Coast and 9200 rooms on the Sunshine Coast as well as 21,000 Airbnb and cabins.

In hard figures, the Games guardians reported the Games will fire up more than $20.2b in tourism growth between now and 2032, add an extra $8.63b in exports, create 130,000 direct jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs, including 10,000 in tourism.

The organisational budget will be cost-neutral at about $4.45b and totally privately funded.

IOC president Thomas Bach said Queensland had mounted a compelling case that Olympics bosses wanted to grab hold of in a time when sport and the world needed certainty.

“It proposes sustainable Games in line with the region’s long-term strategy and using primarily existing and temporary venues,” Mr Bach said.

“The commitment of Australia and Oceania to Olympic sports has grown remarkably since the fantastic Olympic Games Sydney 2000.

“This is why we see such strong public support.

“We decided to seize an opportunity to take to the next stage our discussions about returning 32 years later.

“In this way, we are also acknowledging the strength of the Australian team and other athletes from across the continent of Oceania at the Olympic Games over the past decades.”

The proposed Brisbane Live venue.

The next step is expected to include a list of signed agreements with the IOC, committing different levels of governments to provide essential services like venues, security and public transport.

It also needs to hammer out venue funding.

Proposal insiders say the final proposal could be ready to be put in front of the IOC and go for a full vote as soon as the Tokyo Games in July, meaning Brisbane could potentially be just months from winning the biggest event in the world.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state would begin assessing “in detail” what venues would host events.

“We’ve got to go down to the fine print and make sure we’ve got all the funding lined up between all levels of government,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk flagged the possibility of the regions holding soccer matches to ensure “all of the state will share in an Olympic glory”.

“We want to make sure this is inclusive of Queensland and that we all have a part of history here,” she said.

AOC President John Coates says there remains a lot of work to be undertaken as the candidature process continues.

“This is an important next step in an ongoing dialogue with the Future Host Commission. We are very clear that we must continue to work hard in outlining our vision for a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.”