Gold Coasters have good reasons to be wary of Olympics bid

Some big claims are being made about why we should bid to host the Olympic Games. But Gold Coasters have a lot of very good reasons to be wary, writes Keith Woods.

The word ‘host’ has a number of meanings, though two are most prominent.

Here’s how the Oxford English Dictionary defines the first, most common meaning: “A person who receives or entertains other people as guests.”

And then the next one.

“An animal or plant on or in which a parasite or commensal organism lives.”

Which definition of host best describes the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games?

Undoubtedly, the first definition is most apt. The thousands of wonderful Games Shaper volunteers, the staff of hotels and restaurants, indeed the people of the city as a whole, made sure of that.

But many Gold Coasters see the second definition, the one that sees host as something taken over and dominated by another, as containing some truth.

It’s why the suggestion of assisting Brisbane host an Olympic Games draws howls of protest.

People remember that while the Commonwealth Games were a financial success for the organisers, the same could not be said for thousands of small businesses.

That while politicians grandstanded to packed stadiums, contrary to their grand promises, much of the city was like a ghost town.

And that the many worried Gold Coasters who saw it all coming were peremptorily instructed to suck it up.

While there was a large white whale at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, we were left with no white elephants. Picture: Getty Images

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS

While athletes and spectators gladdened the hearts, the behaviour of our political masters left a sour taste that lingers still. It is a road few here are eager to travel so soon again.

There are other reasons to be wary.

The Commonwealth Games was a commitment this city and this state always had the capacity to meet. About $2 billion was spent, but it was prudently managed and the infrastructure put in place was badly needed, guaranteeing that while there was a large white whale, there would be no white elephants.

OTHER NEWS:

Blow to comeback hopes of ex-Smiles boss

Dozens allegedly caught drug driving at Nimbin Mardi Grass

Trainer devastated by shocking horse death

The Olympics, however, is a far hungrier beast. The London Games in 2012 are estimated to have cost almost $26 billion. Partly because a city of London’s scale already had much necessary infrastructure in place, that was the lowest cost of recent summer Olympics. Beijing, four years earlier, is estimated to have cost $64 billion.

Merely bidding for the right to host the Games is estimated to cost at least $70 million.

IOC president Thomas Bach (left) and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner are seen taking a quick tour outside the Brisbane City Hall after a meeting with the Council of Mayors South East Queensland in Brisbane on Monday. Picture: AAP

Against all this, almost farcically, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner was this week claiming that a Queensland Games could be cost neutral. It’s the sort of magical thinking that happens years out from an event, before commitments are made and realities bite.

Cr Schrinner would do well to note that the cost of every modern Olympics has far exceeded initial estimates. The final bill for the London Games, although relatively inexpensive, was still more than three times what was originally expected.

Proponents counter that hosting the Olympics will focus the minds of State and Federal governments on delivering the transport infrastructure that southeast Queensland so badly needs.

No doubt that is true – for Brisbane. While the Gold Coast and other regional centres would host a number of events, this would most certainly be the Brisbane Games, and to Brisbane, more than ever, the investment would flow.

If you think the State Government suffers from a Brisbane myopia now, just wait and see what happens if our neighbouring city is to be the centrepiece of an Olympics. They’ll only cast their eyes further when it comes to paying the bill.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is rightly cautious about the prospect of a bid for the Olympics. Picture: AAP

It is quite possible that the Gold Coast would do well from an Olympics in other ways. Vast numbers of hotel rooms would be needed – and that’s a need we can fill. Roads and streets here would be unlikely to empty as they did during the Commonwealth Games. The opposite may well occur – on this occasion, we could become the destination of choice for Games refugees.

But the financial risk involved in accruing such benefits is massive. Any sensible business person would say those risks outweigh the potential gains.

It’s why so few cities now vie for the privilege of hosting the Olympics.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is weighing up the arguments and was due to meet with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on the Gold Coast last night.

There are many excited voices urging her to back a bid, but for now she remains cautious.

“Any decision to stage a bid will be on the basis that the investment is justified and in the best interests of all of Queensland,” she said earlier this week.

The experience of previous host cities shows us that the Premier cannot be given definitive proof this test can be met. In fact, their experience shows cost predictions are not to be trusted.

And the experience of the Commonwealth Games shows us, that among locals, there are often losers as well as winners.

There’s another meaning for ‘host’. It is the word used by Catholics to describe the bread that becomes the body of Christ.

It takes quite a leap of faith to accept this meaning. It would take another great leap to believe hosting the Olympics would not represent an extraordinary risk for this region.