One final hurdle for Brisbane Olympic bid
Today marks just two weeks until D-Day on the fate of the bid for a southeast Queensland 2032 Olympics with the International Olympic Committee set to vote on the proposal on July 21.
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A six-year odyssey will come down to just 45 minutes for Brisbane to secure Queensland’s Olympic dream.
Today marks just two weeks until D-Day on the fate of the bid for a southeast Queensland 2032 Olympics with the International Olympic Committee set to vote on the proposal on July 21 in Tokyo.
Before the vote, Queensland’s bid will make one final 45-minute presentation to the IOC before a nerve-racking wait on a decision which could shape Queensland for an entire generation and deliver an $8b windfall to the state.
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The bid needs 50 per cent of the vote from the 102-member IOC, but with several members unlikely to be in attendance, that could leave the fate of Brisbane in the hands of 48 delegates.
Brisbane’s bid has been given a dream runafter the IOC announced the city as the “preferred candidate”, but Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates said there was no room for complacency in the final two weeks of the campaign.
“This is the biggest prize in sport and you should never take that for granted,” he said.
“We’ve got to make the final presentation and make sure we address all the right issues.”
Mr Coates will join Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner for the presentation, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison will appear via videolink.
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The Brisbane bid is in uncharted waters after the IOC made changes to the hosting process, ending the practice of intense lobbying between rival delegates.
The pandemic has given rise to more challenges, leading to some anxious moments in the final run to the finish line for hosting rights to the biggest event on the planet.
Queensland government modelling forecasts a 20-year windfall from hosting the Games, both in the decade before and decade following the event, with estimates of an $8.1b economic bonanza for Queensland and $17.6b across the country.
A Queensland Olympics, centred on the southeast but with venues across the state, would also create an estimated 123,000 jobs.
The benefits to the state’s tourism industry could sustain the sector for a generation.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the potential benefits for Queensland would be “transformational”.
“We know the Games are likely to supercharge our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan,” he said.
“An Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 could also help accelerate the development of sporting and transport infrastructure for our growing State and boost international trade and tourism.
“This is about delivering meaningful, lasting benefits for the community and putting Brisbane and Queensland on the world stage.”
Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said winning the vote in two weeks would lead to a huge increase in exposure for the state which would translate into priceless promotion.
“Never has it been more important to fly the flag for our destination – it is a rallying cry for now and for the future and one we should all support,” he said.
“There could never be a bigger stage for Brisbane, Queensland and Australia to present itself in the best light possible.
“If Queensland is named to host of the 2032 Olympic Games – hosting the world – we’ll see an immediate spike in interest from prospective visitors.
“An announcement in Queensland’s favour would prompt millions of people right around the world to take an interest in Queensland.
“No amount of marketing spend can buy this kind of positive exposure.”
Sydney’s Olympics more than 20 years ago were credited with delivering an extra 1.6 million visitors each year and Brisbane bid officials will hope for similar success at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be a distant memory and international travel returns to pre-pandemic levels.
Tourism agencies across Queensland are believed to be already working on campaigns to launch a charm offensive if the state receives the green light in a fortnight.
How Brisbane Olympics 2032 will showcase city and regions
Originally published as One final hurdle for Brisbane Olympic bid
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