Gold Coast Marathon 2024: Event success sparks calls for city to host 2032 Olympic Games event
A pair of legendary distance runners have thrown their weight behind calls for the Gold Coast to host the 2032 Olympic Games marathon, declaring it a “no-brainer”. FULL STORY
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Legendary distance runners Steve Moneghetti and Rob de Castella have thrown their weight behind calls for the Gold Coast to host the 2032 Olympic Games marathon, declaring it a “no-brainer”.
The 42.2km race is pencilled in to be hosted by the Sunshine Coast but after another successful Gold Coast Marathon weekend, calls are growing for event organisers to reconsider.
Mr de Castella, a world champion marathon runner and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, said the Gold Coast had proven itself as the right place to host the event.
“The Gold Coast Marathon is still the biggest marathon in Australia, it’s got an incredible history and it’s in a beautiful area with all the beaches and the whole Gold Coast vibe.
“It would be a great place to be able to showcase the marathon to the world.
“Sunny Coast is great as well but Gold Coast is well in front in terms of the marathon.
“They’re talking about trying to divide up the triathlon and the marathon – so I think they want to spread the love, spread the joy. But Gold Coast Marathon is huge, massive.”
It comes after a weekend Gold Coast Marathon running festival which attracted a record 30,000 entrants.
Mr Moneghetti, a four-time Commonwealth Games medallist and Olympian, said the Olympics would be “big’ for the region.
“You want to make sure you embrace the whole state and the whole country and you can do that by having the marathon in a regional area, somewhere like the Gold Coast,” he said.
“It’s got the history, it’s got the course, it’s got the infrastructure and the organisation to have a successful event.
“It’s a no-brainer.”
The 2032 Games from mid-July would be a fortnight after that year’s Gold Coast Marathon, meaning existing infrastructure in place and organisers all available.
It’s understood the Broadwater Parklands are earmarked for Olympic triathlon, swimming and Paralympic triathlon while the Sunshine Coast is pencilled in to host the 2032 Games and Paralympic marathons.
The Sunshine Coast is famous for hosting the Noosa Triathlon while the Gold Coast is better known for the marathon.
Mayor Tom Tate, recently appointed to the Olympics organising committee, said he supported the idea and expected it would be well-received by Gold Coasters.
“There is no doubt the Gold Coast Marathon course would be ideal for the Olympic Marathon with our experience running Australia’s biggest marathon and our iconic skyline and beaches,” he said.
“The 2032 Olympic Games were always sold to Queenslanders as a regional Games and I am sure the Sunshine Coast will do a good job presenting the marathon.”
Mr Tate said he was unaware of any plans to move the marathon from the Sunshine Coast but said he was open to it.
“As we have seen with events and venues, the golf being switched from the Gold Coast to Brisbane and the Gabba being replaced by QSAC, there is always the potential for changes to be made,” he said.
“Should the decision be made to move the marathon to the Gold Coast, I have no doubt that would be well received by athletes and spectators.
“At this stage however, I am unaware of any official move to switch the marathon from its current venue.”
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