‘We’re already ready’: Gold Coast’s bold plan to save 2026 Comm Games

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the Tourist Strip can step up to host the doomed 2026 Commonwealth Games. Should it? HAVE YOUR SAY - VOTE FOR OR AGAINST THE PLAN NOW

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has boldly declared the Tourist Strip could step up to host the doomed 2026 Commonwealth Games – if the Federal government diverts Victorian funding to southeast Queensland.

Speaking to media on Thursday, Councillor Tate said the city’s own Commonwealth Games in 2018 had earned a “five-gold star” review and had been a major winner for the city’s reputation and legacy.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says his city will take on the Commonwealth Games - if they get federal funding. Picture: Richard Gosling

“We are already Games-ready,” he said.

“The opportunity has come knocking… do we want to help is the question.

“And can we help? The answer is yes.

“And we can, if the Federal government is willing to reprovision.

“Remember, we’re not asking for more money, we’re just asking for the money be reprovisioned that they (the Feds) were going to spend in 2026, instead of spending it in Victoria, spend it here in southeast Queensland.”

This week’s shock announcement by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews that the southern state would renege on its hosting rights for the 2026 Commonwealth Games sent shockwaves across the British Empire, with Birmingham, hosts of the last Games in 2022, also putting their hand up to come to the party.

Councillor Tate urged Games officials and the Federal government to have “an open mind” and start contingency plans ASAP.

“The Premier of Victoria’s lemon, the Gold Coast can turn that into a lemonade,” he said.

“Our facilities have been maintained at the highest level, so we’re Games-ready.

“We don’t have to build.

We’ve done it already and not a lot would change.

“I’m confident and with that confidence, you’re hearing from someone who has hosted the Games and who is an engineer and why I’m confident is we’re not building major structures, it’s done.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture : Sky News

He said there would be no impost on ratepayers having to carry the can for another Commonwealth Games.

“We’re happy for help but we’re not willing to pick up the cost Victoria are believed to have blown.”

“For the athletes, this is their journey. They have trained relentlessly… they would want these Games to hone their skills.”

Speaking with radio station NOVA on Friday, Mr Tate said the Victoria decision has ruined Australia’s international reputation.

“The key issue here is that we got to repair our reputation to go ‘If Australia say we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it’,” Mr Tate said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, meanwhile, told The Courier-Mail despite the Gold Coast Mayor’s impassioned plea, from her perspective, nothing had changed.

“We are 100 per cent focussed on the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” she said.

“As I said the other day, all our efforts must remain on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Earlier this week Olympic powerbroker John Coates told The Courier-Mail Queensland should stay focused on the huge opportunity of hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, while Deputy Premier Steven Miles said it was “highly unlikely” Queensland would play any part in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Councillor Tate’s comments come just two days after Gold Coast acting mayor Donna Gates said it was “ludicrous” to expect her city to pick up the Commonwealth Games baton dropped by Victoria “with just a couple of years to go”.

Deputy Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Cr Gates said facilities built for the “very successful” 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Coast, including the athletes village at Southport, were fully tenanted and occupied.

She said cost of living pressures was the major focus of all levels of government, including local councils.

“Our focus needs to be our ratepayers and looking after their needs, as well as the 2032 Olympics,” she said.

Cr Gates said she hoped Victoria’s decision to dump the Games might free up more federal cash for projects like the light-rail extension to Gold Coast Airport.

However, Councillor Tate argued athletes could be housed in other forms of accommodation and with most of the sporting facilities still in use, there would be minimal disruption as long as the Federal government honoured its original funding commitments.

Originally published as ‘We’re already ready’: Gold Coast’s bold plan to save 2026 Comm Games