Tourism bosses back Gold Coast, Sth-east Queensland Olympics idea

AUSTRALIA’S top tourism boss says a Gold Coast-anchored south-east Queensland bid for the 2032 Olympics is the “next logical step” after hosting the Commonwealth Games.

AUSTRALIA’S top tourism boss says a Gold Coast-anchored south-east Queensland bid for the 2032 Olympics is the “next logical step” after hosting the Commonwealth Games.

His backing for the idea is shared by Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter, with momentum building due to visiting International Olympic Committee officials impressed by the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Metricon Stadium, Commonwealth Games opening ceremony venue. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The Bulletin can reveal informal meetings have been held on the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games to discuss an Olympics bid, as momentum builds towards a tilt to bring the world’s greatest sporting showpiece to the state’s southeast.

GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie said visiting IOC officials witnessed the “success” of the Commonwealth Games first-hand, but warned a bipartisan federal agreement to underwrite the event must be secured if the bid was to fly.

The cost of the bid would be at least the $US12 billion Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers now say it will cost to host their Games.

In this April 4, 2018 photo, Aborigines perform a smoking ceremony at Carrara Stadium during the opening ceremony for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said of a regional bid to host the 2032 Olympics: “Why not think big, why not dream big?

“By 2032 the southeast corner of Queensland will be bigger than Sydney, bigger than Melbourne and potentially an important world-leading destination.

“I have no doubt we’ll put on the best Commonwealth Games ever and the next logical step is the Olympics.

“With the growth we are seeing in Brisbane and the development in Brisbane, linked with the world-beat lifestyle of the Gold Coast, it’s a no brainier,” Mr Winter said.

The crowd getting fired up prior to events starting at the Southport Aquatic Centre.

Tourism Australia managing director John O’Sullivan added: “I think an Olympic bid for Queensland would be a great thing.

“Obviously I’m not the person who funds it so it is easy for me to say. But having grown up in Brisbane and seen what a (1982) Commonwealth Games and also (1988) World Expo did for that city it is kind of the next step.

“Australia already has a great reputation of being able to host, stage and manage major events internationally and I’m sure the Gold Coast - this might be a bit presumptuous - is going to be no different.

“For me it is the next logical step.”

When asked about the idea of hosting an Olympics, both Commonwealth Games Minister

Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018 Opening Ceremony Teams March. Teams are in order of entering the stadium, with the host country Australia being last. 04 Apr 2018 Pictured: Teams / Flags are in order of Entering the Stadium and Australia Being last as the host Country. Photo credit: A Carlile / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com [phone]

Kate Jones and Gold Coast-based Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo said they wanted to see the city get through the Commonwealth Games first before commenting about that.

Mr Beattie: “I know the IOC has an interest in the Commonwealth Games and has an interest in southeast Queensland considering a bid for the Olympics.

“They will have seen our capacity to run a Games in the southeast corner. There’s a recognition globally that we really do these events well.

“They (Queenslanders at the Games) are enthusiastic, but money is what drives enthusiasm to reality.’’

“The two weaknesses (in an SEQ bid) are that you need a big stadium and the $12 billion (US dollars) — other than that we could do it tomorrow.

“No State Government can do the heavy lifting of investing in an Olympics, as the State Government has done with the Commonwealth Games.”

General view of the stadium during the gold medal match between Christopher McHugh and Damien Schumann of Australia and Samuel Pedlow and Sam Schachter of Canada during the mens Beach Volleyball Gold Medal match at Coolangatta Beach on day eight of the XXI Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia, Thursday, April 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Darren England)

The visiting IOC delegates included team officials from several Commonwealth nations.

A feasibility study commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors is to be delivered in mid-year and help the mayors decide later this year whether to make a bid to the IOC.

The Australian Olympic Committee, which must submit any Australian bid, urged southeast Queensland to bid for the Olympic Games last year when AOC president John Coates made championing a bid from the region part of his platform for re-election.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, intent on delivering the Commonwealth Games before commenting on an SEQ Olympics bid, refused to answer questions yesterday, but has previously emphasised Federal funding would be essential.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: A general view of the stadium is seen as the sun sets in the match between Scotland and Malaysia during Hockey on day nine of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast Hockey Centre on April 13, 2018 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Mr Beattie said his confidence was based on “how well our transport went, with two million passenger trips (on public transport), our ticket sales of 1.194 million as of yesterday, and the organisation skills that will now reside on the Gold Coast from these Games.”

An IOC vote for the 2032 Olympics host is several years away, most likely 2025.