International Olympic Committee nominates Queensland as preferred candidate to host 2032 Olympic Games

Queensland’s bid for the 2032 Olympic Games has received a significant boost with it set to be installed as preferred candidate by the International Olympic Committee.

Queensland has taken a huge step towards hosting the 2032 Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee rubber stamps its status as preferred candidate.

According to a report coming out of Europe, the IOC’s Future Host Summer Commission, chaired by Norway’s Kristin Kloster Aasen, has been studying proposals from several cities and regions, but has been most impressed by Queensland’s bid, according to insidethegames.

If the Executive Board accept the recommendation, then exclusive negotiations are set to be opened with Australian officials with a view to putting Queensland forward to the IOC Session to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 if they go well.

Queensland is a step closer to the 2032 Olympic Games. Picture: Chris McGrath

It had been hoped this could be done as soon at this year’s planned IOC Session on the eve of the rearranged Olympics in Tokyo in July, but with the coronavirus pandemic still causing problems with the planning of the event, this now appears unlikely.

The Australian Olympic Committee said it was waiting on the IOC meeting tonight.

“The Brisbane, Queensland candidature is following the process approved by IOC Members in Session in 2019,” an AOC spokesman said.

“We are aware that the IOC Executive Board will receive presentations from a number of Commissions at its meeting tonight, including the Future Host Commission.

“We are not privy to that presentation but look forward to any advice in due course.”

Queensland’s bid, formally lodged in September, 2019, by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, would see the Games held predominantly in southeast Queensland.

Any decision to position Queensland as the preferred bidder, however, will leave several other cities disappointed, particularly Doha.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk discuss Queensland’s 2032 Olympic Games bid. Picture: Jono Searle

The Qatar capital had targeted the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as the next major event it wants to stage after the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2030 Asian Games, which it was awarded at the end of last year.

Budapest, an increasingly important hub for leading events and championships, had also hoped to put together a strong bid, as had Rhine-Ruhr in Germany.

Chinese cities Chengdu and Chongqing had also announced in December that they were planning to bid.

Jakarta in Indonesia, New Delhi in India, Istanbul in Turkey and Saint Petersburg in Russia were other cities exploring the possibility of bidding.

It also appears to end the already slim hopes of a joint bid from North and South Korean capitals Pyongyang and Seoul.

Originally published as International Olympic Committee nominates Queensland as preferred candidate to host 2032 Olympic Games