2032 Olympic Games: Mayor Tom Tate fears exclusion because he’s not a woman

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate fears he will be excluded from the planning of the 2032 Olympic Games in southeast Queensland – because he’s not a woman.

MAYOR Tom Tate fears he will be excluded from the planning of the 2032 Olympic Games in southeast Queensland – because he’s not a woman.

The Gold Coast is not guaranteed a position on the organising committee despite it being a co-host and, because of a gender quota, Cr Tate could find himself forced to sit out in favour of his deputy, Cr Donna Gates.

Cr Tate has called on newly minted Olympics Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk to ensure the Gold Coast had a seat at the table.

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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Legislation to establish the 22-member 2032 Organising Committee (OCOG) will go before parliament in November.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is assured a seat with one other open to a local government hosting Games events, including the Sunshine Coast.

Cr Tate said the city was being “victimised”, “treated with disdain” and should have a seat on the committee regardless of the gender of its civic leader.

“Forget woke, it’s about ability and who people chose, not forcing the gender card on something significant. When people read this they will say it is not right, it’s laughable.

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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“If worse comes to worse and they want a lady I’ll nominate (Deputy Mayor) Donna Gates, which is a fair compromise, but to do this sort of thing it’s not in fitting with the Olympic ideals.

“We should have a seat regardless of gender because right now it feels like we’re all in this together, as long as we’re female.”

The Gold Coast is on track to host up to nine sports and an athletes village at the 2032 Games.

Among those already assured seats are Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates and the athletes’ nomination, former Olympian Bronte Barratt.

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Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane is assured a seat on the board (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Cr Tate said it would not make sense for the Gold Coast to be excluded from the board in favour of a smaller southeast Queensland region, given both his experience with the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the city’s significant number of council-controlled sporting facilities.

“Either it’s a misunderstanding or a stuff up, because when you look at sporting facilities for the Olympics owned by a city, the Gold Coast has more than anywhere else in Queensland.

“The Olympic committee wouldn’t even know where Brisbane was if it wasn’t for the Gold Coast having delivered such a world-class Commonwealth Games.

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Artist impression of the planned satellite athletes village at Robina for the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032.

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“Which other politician on the board would have extensive local government experience in running a multi-sports event the size of a Commonwealth Games? Nobody else.”

Asked if the Gold Coast would be assured of a position on the board and whether Cr Tate would represent the city despite the gender quota, a state government spokesman said the draft legislation was “being circulated among our partners”.

“Once finalised it will be introduced to parliament this month,” he said.

Cr Tate’s criticism comes after federal MP Ted O’Brien, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s special envoy to the Olympics, last week said he was concerned Premier Palaszczuk would have too much power in the committee.

He suggested recommending to Mr Morrison that the federal government walk away from the 50/50 partnership, something that was immediately knocked back by the Coalition.

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