Scott Morrison to meet with International Olympics Committee to push Queensland’s 2032 bid

Prime Scott Morrison will meet with the International Olympics Committee in Tokyo today to push Queensland’s 2032 Olympic Games bid and outline the Federal Government’s plans for financial support.

Australian athletes are “very likely” to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, despite the pandemic, while the International Olympics Committee President told Scott Morrison the 2032 bid for the Games is “heating up”.

The Prime Minister met with the IOC boss in Japan, where he pushed the case for the southeast Queensland bid.

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In warm talks where the joked about the recent rugby results and discussed the pandemic, Mr Morrison told Mr Bach the Australian bid was not “taking anything for granted”.

“The Australian Government remains very committed to support the Queensland Government’s (bid),” he said.

“They just had a state election in Queensland. (Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates) and I are very hopeful they will be able to continue moving forward with the next phase and engaging with the IOC.

“While I was here (in Japan) I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up and re-express our keenness and commitment from an Australian Government point of view.”

Mr Bach said after disruption from COVID-19, now was the time to resume talks.

“Once the Queensland Government is ready for the next round of consultations. The race is somewhat heating up,” he said.

“There are a number of interested parties. Queensland is being ready and well advanced.”

Meanwhile, in Canberra, Health Minister Greg Hunt

“We’re very confident that the Olympic Games will be held in a COVID-safe way. I have spoken with the IOC and they have moved to secure vaccines for all athletes and officials who will be attending from around the world,” he said.

“Our expectation is there will be vaccines for all athletes from all nations, all officials from all nations.

“I think the news is the Olympics are very likely to go ahead with our full support in 2021.”

EARLIER

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet with the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach in Tokyo today about Queensland’s 2032 Olympic Games bid.

Mr Morrison is outlining the Federal Government’s fiscal support for the Queensland Government bid, which includes cost-sharing arrangements on major infrastructure upgrades such as new roads and train services required to host the event.

Hosting the 2032 Olympics would require a second M1 and a Faster Rail network between the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

This would be in addition to the Cross River Rail and Brisbane Live entertainment precincts.

Mr Morrison, who will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga tonight, met Mr Bach and Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is in talks with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach about Queensland’s 2032 Olympic Games bid. Picture: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)

Mr Bach has accepted Queensland’s bid from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and talks are continuing on whether Queensland will be “invited’’ to host the Games.

The selection process for the Olympics has changed and costly bidding wars among countries has now been replaced by “ongoing dialogue’’, where countries are asked to present their credentials before the IOC makes a final determination on which bid gets the green light.

Australia faces Qatar, India and Indonesia for the 2032 hosting role.

AOC president John Coates believes a decision could be made around the time of next year’s Tokyo Olympics, or at the latest Beijing’s Winter Olympics, in early 2022.

Hamilton’s Portside, the Bowen Hills railway yards, and the Albion Park Raceway are touted as possible sites for the Games Village and main stadium.

Originally published as Scott Morrison to meet with International Olympics Committee to push Queensland’s 2032 bid