IOC rule change gives Queensland’s 2032 Olympic bid a big boost

Australia’s chances of being selected to host the 2032 Olympics will receive a major boost if new bidding process rules are adopted by the IOC. Find out what it entails.

Australia’s chances of being selected to host the 2032 Olympics have received a major boost following the release of a radical proposal to reshape the bidding process.

Queensland could proceed with a statewide bid if the new plans are approved as expected, with the International Olympic Council to consider awarding the Games to regions, rather than individual cities, as well as introducing a raft of flexible measures that would slash costs.

They include changing the timetable when host nations are chosen.

Currently, hosts are chosen seven years in advance. But that window could be shortened or extended if the hosts need extra time, meaning Australia could be awarded the Games for a third time sooner than expected.

The proposed changes, which were developed by a working group chaired by Australia's John Coates, add enormous clout to Queensland’s bid to stage the 2032 Olympics while delivering a win-win for the IOC, which desperately wants hosts that can be regarded as a safe pair of hands after the troubled 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Sydney Olympics in 2000 were a huge success.

The IOC changed its own rules to award the 2024 Olympics to Paris and the 2028 Games to Los Angeles after they were the only candidates for 2024, and an Australian bid for 2032 is considered an ­irresistible choice for Olympic powerbrokers.

Already the early favourite because of Australia’s flawless reputation for hosting international sports events after staging the 1956 Olympics (Melbourne) and 2000 Olympics (Sydney), the Sunshine State has proposed a Southeast Queensland bid, which would allow for the use of the existing facilities that were built for last year’s Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast.

Cathy Freeman lights the Olympic cauldron in 2000.

IOC officials, who were in Queensland earlier this month for Sport Accord, were highly impressed by the proposed bid so are now expected to rubber stamp the proposed changes at the next IOC Session in June after they were presented to the executive board in ­Switzerland this week.

The IOC executive board also confirmed that boxing will remain on the program for next year’s Tokyo Olympics following the suspension of the­ ­International Boxing Association (AIBA) amid concerns about its ­governance.

The IOC said it would organise the competition itself, with qualifying events due to be held early next year, and would also increase the number of weight divisions for women.