‘Hands off our Games’: Miles issues warning to SA over bid to host cricket

Steven Miles has thrown his support behind cricket being included in the Brisbane Games and warned SA to back off as proposed event host.

Steven Miles brushed aside a bid from South Australia to host Olympic events in 2032 as Queensland’s Acting Premier threw his support behind cricket being included in the Games.

Australia’s favourite summer sport being added to the Olympics gathered momentum this week after reports revealed the International Olympic Committee is tipped to include T20 cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

State government sources revealed to The Courier-Mail the addition of cricket in LA would virtually guarantee the sport being played at the Brisbane Games in 2032.

It’s understood the Gabba would emerge as the host venue for the T20 battle for gold, with matches played in the first week of the Games between the Opening Ceremony and the athletics in week two.

Steven Miles told the SA Premier: “hands off our Games”. Picture: Annette Dew

“There’s quite a few steps to go yet before the IOC determines if cricket is in for LA,” Mr Miles told reporters on Saturday.

“That will help guide us about whether it will be in for Brisbane in 2032.

“I certainly think it should be — I think that would be a great outcome for the Games (and) a great outcome for the Olympics’ reach particularly in India and the subcontinent.”

Revelations of the sport being added to the Olympics program prompted SA Premier Peter Malinauskas to issue a bid for the event to be played at Adelaide Oval.

The Labor leader also pitched the state generally as a host for other sports, saying Olympic football games were played in Adelaide during the Sydney 2000 Games.

But Mr Miles brushed aside the audacious proposal, issuing a playful warning to his interstate party colleague: “Mali, hands off our Games.”

Malinauskas reckons the Brisbane 2032 Games should feature Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Malinauskas said Adelaide Oval was the perfect option given it was the “best cricket venue in the world”.

But Queensland’s Acting Premier snapped back: “It won’t be by 2032”.

“We’ll have the brand new Gabba serviced by this brand new train station — you’ll be able to get here from anywhere in the region,” Mr Miles told media during a Woolloongabba train station update.

IOC president Thomas Bach is understood to be keen to include cricket because of its appeal to the 1.8 billion people in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, traditionally nations not so engaged by Olympic sports.

A potential barrier for cricket’s inclusion has always been the large number of participating athletes, with both a men’s and women’s event likely.

But it is understood a possible solution would be to play pre-Games qualifying rounds ahead of a finals series after the opening ceremony. This would open up the Gabba option, that it is understood the state government here is eyeing off.

Originally published as ‘Hands off our Games’: Miles issues warning to SA over bid to host cricket