‘Winner is Qld’: Premier signals statewide bid for Olympic Games 2032 may be imminent

Annastacia Palaszczuk has given her strongest signal yet that she could be about to sign off on a bid for the 2032 Olympic Games following a rule change that will make the sporting spectacle more affordable to host.

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk has given her strongest signal yet that she could be about to sign off on a bid for the 2032 Olympic Games following a rule change that will make the sporting spectacle more affordable to host.

“It’s very encouraging news that we have just heard from the International Olympic Committee,” Ms Palaszczuk said today of the move to no longer require massive new stadiums to be built.

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“I am now waiting to hear formally from the president Thomas Bach who will be writing to me.

“I have already written to the Prime Minister seeking the Federal Government’s commitment.

“That’s stage one.

“Then off course we will look at everything on the table.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says any bid for the Olympic Games would have to include regional areas like Cairns and Townsville. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Ms Palaszczuk said any bid would need to include areas like Cairns, Townsville and the Whitsundays, a prospect she had raised during early discussions with Mr Bach.

“We need to be inclusive of Queensland in a bid.

“Cairns and Townsville were utilised during the Commonwealth Games and it was very successful.

“Let’s see how we go. Let’s get all the information on the table but what we have heard finally form the Olympics Committee is very encouraging news.

“It would be great to see Queensland able to make a bid.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was hoping to speak to Prime Minister Scott Morrison when he returns from Japan.

“What we need to see from Canberra is a commitment … that they will back any bid that will of the same tune as the Sydney 2000 Olympics.”

Ms Palaszczuk said she had suggested holding an event like the sailing in the Whitsundays.

“I think “the winner is Queensland” sounds a lot better than “the winner is SEQ”. Where is SEQ?”.

She said cost was the major issue.

“If we are going to back in a bid we need all levels of Government support,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“I’m waiting to get confirmation back from Thomas Bach. He is going to write to me that the actual Olympic Committee is also going to put in money. Then there will be sponsorships but we need to get all those facts on the table.

“ It’s encouraging and I am going to get all of the evidence before us before we make that final decision.”

Originally published as ‘Winner is Qld’: Premier signals statewide bid for Olympic Games 2032 may be imminent