Commonwealth Games Gold Coast: Peter Beattie releases the numbers behind the international event

THE man who told Gold Coasters to “suck it up” on a transport front has highlighted his key take outs and legacy of the Commonwealth Games.

HUGE exposure for the Gold Coast from hosting the Commonwealth Games and Queen’s Baton Relay and 88 per cent hotel occupancy are being trumpeted by organisers.

In one of his final acts as the Games organising committee chairman, Peter Beattie has been highlighting some impressive numbers ahead of today’s final boarding meeting.

Accommodation occupancy on the Gold Coast averaged 88 per cent — despite a forecast fear in the lead up that it would be lucky to pass 70 per cent.

Edward Ockenden of Australia passes the ball during the Commonwealth Games hockey event. (Photo by Nigel Owen/Action Plus via Getty Images)

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Mr Beattie also tweeted this morning that revenue per available room exceeded 100 per cent on all but one night of the Games in April.

It was “well up on corresponding times on Gold Coast with AirBnB also indicating a significant uplift”, Mr Beattie said.

Gold Coast C’Wealth Games will be remembered for fulfilling our promise of inclusion & equality. Games delivered equal medals for men & women, the first ever reconciliation action plan for a major event & the biggest integrated para sport program in C’Wealth Games history #gc2018 https://t.co/zyLDG9SjOE

— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) August 27, 2018

The Games organising committee (GOLDOC) had amassed a social media following of over 800,000 prior to the Games. It grew by another 734,000 followers bringing the total to over 1.5 million during the event, with the social media team handling over two million pieces of content.

Games video content was viewed more than six million times and the event website received 113 million page views during the 11 days of the Games.

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: Harry Aikines-Aryeetey of England leads the race as he takes the baton on the last leg in the Men's 4x100 metres relay final during athletics on day 10 of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

“Unsurprisingly 71 per cent of website visitation during the Games was via mobile or tablet and pleasingly we saw that visitation came from 236 countries,” Mr Beattie tweeted.

He added: “By any measure the Queen’s Baton Relay was a resounding success and great marketing tool. With the 288 day international program across 69 counties and territories and the 100 day domestic program it was the largest (relay) in Commonwealth Games history.”

Legacy; Biggest integrated sports program ever for a C’Wealth Games, with the introduction of Beach Volleyball & Women’s Rugby Sevens & largest para sport program with close to 300 para-athletes competing in 38 medal ceremonies demonstrating true inclusiveness.

@bennyglish

— Peter Beattie (@SmartState1) August 27, 2018

Mr Beattie, who was widely panned by Gold Coasters for telling them pre-Games to “suck it up” when forecasting traffic jam fears that never materialised, said more than seven millions vehicle trips were made during the event.

Mr Beattie said for him the great legacy was putting on the biggest integrated sports program ever for a Games, with the introduction of beach volleyball and women’s Rugby Sevens.

The Games also boasted the largest para sport program with close to 300 para-athletes competing in 38 medal ceremonies demonstrating true inclusiveness, he said.

Other key statistics highlighted this morning were:

— C2018 achieved 66 sponsors and partners and suppliers, the highest number for any Commonwealth Games;

— 15,000 volunteers drawn from over 47,000 applicants were called Games Shapers. Almost 90 per cent of Games Shapers were recruited from Queensland with over 65 per cent coming from within a one hour commuting distance;

Shamera Sterling of Jamaica looks to pass the ball during the Netball Preliminary round match between Jamaica and Barbados on day five of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

— More than seven million trips were taken across the course of the event. More than 5.5 million of those were made on the public transport network, with all modes posting record passenger numbers;

— the quality of the competition was also highlighted with nine world records and 91 Commonwealth records broken;

— feedback from spectators following the Games was 97 per cent of ticket purchases (sample size 9500) indicating they thought the quality of the sport/performances was either ‘very good’ or ‘good’ (the highest of five choices).