Queensland Olympics bid: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says ‘we can deliver’

Queensland’s bid for the 2032 Olympics has just taken a major step closer to becoming a reality, with the Australian Olympic Committee saying it’s confident Brisbane and Queensland could mount a “compelling case” to host the games.

The AOC says it is confident Brisbane and Queensland can mount a “compelling case to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

Mr Coates said the meeting reaffirmed the commitment from all levels of government and the AOC ahead of a first meeting as a group with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland in September.

“Today was an outstanding start and strong display of unity.

“My thanks and congratulations to the Prime Minister for his initiative in establishing the leadership group.

“The leadership group will ensure a disciplined approach and alignment between all levels of government.

“We know Queensland and Australia has the capability and experience to host an Olympic Games in this country for a third time but must ensure that all planning is aligned with Queensland’s long-term requirements, particularly transport infrastructure, including fast rail, community well-being and grass roots sports.”

Mr Coates paid tribute to the Council of Mayors of South East Queensland (COMSEQ) in laying the foundations through the comprehensive feasibility study they commissioned and released last year, and the Queensland Government for “their ready appreciation of the significant benefits that the Games can bring to all of Queensland”.

The IOC says it has been working hard to cut costs for would-be hosts.

“Recent changes to the Olympic Charter minimise candidature election costs and the election of a host is no longer limited to seven years before the particular Games. In the case of Los Angeles 2028 the City was elected eleven years before. Priority must be given to the use of existing and temporary venues. The construction of new permanent venues shall only be considered on the basis of sustainable legacy plans” Mr Coates said.

“The IOC recently wrote to the Premier advising that while it is too early to forecast the IOC contribution to the successful staging of the 2032 Olympic Games, any potential candidates should base their feasibilities and forecast budgeting on the USD1.8 billion IOC contribution to the operating budget of the LA2028 Organising Committee.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the “Olympic Games is a big opportunity for the southeast and Queensland, bigger than any one level of government.

“Collaboration will be critical to the success of any Games proposal, and today was the start of that journey.

“The SEQ Mayors started this idea of an Olympic Games as a great catalyst to bring governments together to deliver the transport infrastructure our region needs. There’s still a lot of work to do, but this is the beginning of an important conversation about South East Queensland.

“We look forward to working closely with the Prime Minister and the Premier over the coming months to ensure any future Olympic Games proposal will deliver a long-term transport solution for Southeast Queensland.”

Sunshine Coast Mayor and SEQ Mayors director Mark Jamieson said it was reassuring to hear the enthusiasm of the Prime Minister, the Premier and the AOC President for a Southeast Queensland 2032 Olympic Games.

“What started as an idea from the SEQ Mayors back in 2015 is now shaping up to be a real possibility,” Cr Jamieson said.

“The SEQ Mayors are committed to an Olympic Games proposal that delivers transport and community infrastructure that will service our communities for decades to come. This would be a great outcome for Southeast Queensland and also for the Olympic movement.

“The Council of Mayors (SEQ) began this journey as a way to expedite the transport connectivity the Sunshine Coast and southeast desperately needs. We started those discussions today, and look forward to working with the Commonwealth and State to explore this opportunity.”

EARLIER: PREMIER CONFIDENT: ‘WE CAN DELIVER OLYMPICS’

QUEENSLAND can deliver an Olympics to be proud of, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australian Olympics boss John Coates and the SEQ Council of Mayors to thrash out how to get a bid off the ground.

Premier Palaszczuk announced Tourism Minister Kate Jones would be minister assisting her to look at the cost and organisation of any bid for the 2032 Games.

“We all need to work together. If this is going to get off the ground we need all parties to be working together in the best interests of this state,” Ms Palaszczuk said in Cairns this afternoon.

“Everyone needs to share in the pride that the Olympic Games would bring to Queensland.

“It’s early days but the value proposition is under way.

“Queensland hosted a very successful Commonwealth Games. In fact it’s been deemed the best ever.

“Minister Jones will be assisting me with the value proposition and she brings a whole wealth of experience, with her weekly management of the Commonwealth Games.

“Politics should be put aside. This is too important. Let’s work together in the best interest of the state.”

Swimming legend Dawn Fraser meets Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as the State Government investigates a 2032 Olympics proposal.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games had included Cairns and Townsville events and she expected the Olympics would offer opportunities for regional cities and towns beyond southeast Queensland.

Ms Jones said the Commonwealth Games had been delivered with the support of all three levels of government and that would be needed again for the Olympics.

“Queensland has so much to offer,” Ms Jones said.

“We know there are so many amazing parts of our state that can be showcased through an Olympic Games.

“Queensland has demonstrated most recently we can host large global games like the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

“We worked with all three levels of government down on the Gold Coast to deliver the Commonwealth Games and we are sure that through the collaboration of all three levels of government we can absolutely do that for Queensland again.”

Ahead of joining the meeting, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner warned an Olympics that did not come with transport infrastructure would be a “disaster”.

“An SEQ Olympic Games will be at least six times bigger than the Commonwealth Games, and it will see spectators visiting all parts of the region. Cross River Rail and CityTrain will help, but there is no way they can manage the load of an Olympic Games without the addition of fast rail,” Cr Schrinner, the chair of the SEQ Council of Mayors organisation that first mooted a bid to speed up infrastructure building, said.

Using an Olympics bid to help fast-track critical infrastructure needs in southeast Queensland was also at the top of the action plan delivered during The Courier-Mail’s Future Tourism campaign in June.

The meeting this afternoon is the first time all three levels of government have been together with Australian Olympic Committee boss John Coates to work on any bid.

Ms Palaszczuk has been invited to Switzerland next month to meet with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bachand discuss a bid, that would require backing from all three levels of government: federal, state and local.

Mr Coates has said initial financial planning indicates the games will be cost-neutral to southeast Queensland.

The Council of Mayors estimates the operational budget of a southeast Queensland Games would be about $5.3 billion, but would be offset by a financial contribution from the International Olympic Committee of $2.6 billion and an anticipated $2.7 billion of revenue from sponsors, ticket sales and merchandise.

It is understood any proposal for SEQ to host the Games could be put to the IOC in time for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, with its decision expected the following year.

Originally published as Queensland Olympics bid: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says ‘we can deliver’