Paul Weston: Almost a year on what was the real legacy of the Commonwealth Games?

It is almost a year since the Commonwealth Games was staged as Queensland’s biggest sporting event. Here’s what those attended really thought about it.

Outside the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony. Picture Mike Batterham

THE Commonwealth Games was almost a year ago. Evaluation reports are being completed. What is the legacy? What visitors are saying about the Gold Coast is stunning.

A GC2018 Visitor Study, which dived into the journeys of 591,332 people, will soon be released by the Palaszczuk Government.

The study found 64 per cent of visitors were locals or day-trippers, 28 per cent domestic overnight visitors and 8 per cent from overseas.

Of the international guests, 63 per cent of them were new to the city. Almost all of the others from interstate and throughout Queensland had been here before.

Australian Commonwealth Games Athletes meet and greet at Surfers Paradise Beach. Picture Glenn Hampson/

Like many of us, they attended about four sporting events. They stayed with a friend or relative, or booked a hotel room for the night.

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At least 93 per cent of visitors rated their sporting experience as excellent or good. Only two per cent thought it was a downer.

The Coast was rated “an excellent or good place” to visit by 92 per cent of the respondents, and 87 per cent indicated they were “likely or very likely” to return.

The city in the future will most likely see a potential 440,000 extra visitors.

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Fans pack Surfers Paradise to meet with Australian Commonwealth Games athletes. Picture Glenn Hampson.

But what the new reporting suggests is that earlier research by Griffith University — 1.5 billion extra people were tipped to visit here in the next 10 years — appears conservative.

Not surprisingly, the findings on Festival 2018 — touted as 12 days of free arts and culture run in conjunction with the Games, but poorly promoted and attended — confirmed Cairns and Townsville rated better than the experience in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The Coast was way ahead of Brisbane and the north Queensland cities in terms of transport experience. The trams and buses worked a treat and no one was on our roads.

On rating the Coast as a place to visit, the city fell just behind Brisbane and the north. But more people wanted to return here than those rival destinations.

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Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones is pleased with the latest report. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

“The Commonwealth Games only lasted two weeks,” Games Minister Kate Jones says, “but the greatest impact of the Games will be felt over the next few years — that’s what this report shows.

“More than 85 per cent of people said they wanted to return to the Gold Coast and 85 per cent said they’d recommend the city to their friends and family.

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“This is a huge vote of confidence in our tourism sector. We know this will generate millions for our economy in years to come and support vital tourism jobs on the Coast.”

On the economic front, we already know from reporting by this newspaper how some businesses suffered during the Games. Future reports should show targets not met.

But what is most telling from the visitor study — and this brings hope for businesses — is not the figures but the quotes gathered from visitors.

“The inclusion of the disabled athletes. It was so inspirational watching them compete and thrive on the crowds cheering them on,” a fan said.

Others touched on the cleanliness of toilets, the flow of traffic — but always the talk turned to the magnificent volunteers.

“Having a son with autism, the crowd controllers and volunteers were very helpful and understanding,” a spectator wrote.

We really have a lot to celebrate nearly a year on from the Games. The message of how we opened a door to a visitor, held out a hand — none of this should be lost in the politics that follows.