Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s thumbs up for 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Games plans

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is backing in Premier David Crisafulli’s new 2032 Olympics and Paralympics venue and host plans - and believes the Glitter Strip could jag even more.

Mayor Tom Tate has praised the State’s newly unveiled plan to deliver the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, but said he was still hopeful of nabbing more sporting events as planning continued.

Cr Tate said the council had “skin in the game”, having budgeted $200m for the Games, for which the Gold Coast council has pledged to fund and deliver an upgraded hockey centre and new indoor arena at Southport’s Carey Park.

A new athlete’s village at Royal Pines in Benowa is also in play, with the future of a planned village at Robina up in the air - but not ruled out with potential for both to proceed.

“It’s Team Queensland and our captain of the team, the Premier, has spoken now we’re going to get on with it,” Mayor Tate said.

“What I love about it is that the core part of course is in Brisbane, but it incorporates all the regions throughout our state.

“That means we can really showcase the tourism part, like they did in Paris.

“We’ll be able to show the Great Barrier Reef, the beaches on the Gold Coast, and all the fishing and it just tremendous.

“It’s quintessential Queensland these Games and I am so proud to be part of the Games team.”

Cr Tate said certainty around the 2032 Games venues meant certainty for the region’s transport and other infrastructure.

Melanie Pilling, Editor of the Saturday Courier-Mail & The Sunday Mail, The Hon. Jarrod Bleijie, Deputy Premier of Queensland, Tom Tate, Gold Coast Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane and Greg Swann, Chief Executive Officer, Brisbane Lions, pictured at the Howard Smith Wharves for the announcement of the Brisbane Olympics 2032 venues and infrastructure, Brisbane 25th March 2025. (Image/Josh Woning)

“The ongoing investment on the M1 won’t stop now and also the upgrade of our heavy rail, to make the connection between Brisbane and Gold Coast much faster, and it’ll be a good case to fast-track light rail stage four.”

Despite his suggestion the swimming should be held at the aquatic centre in Southport, Cr Tate said he was happy with the new plan, to build a world-class centre in Brisbane.

“My beef was that it was going be temporary pool in a $2.5bn arena and that’s no legacy,” he said.

“I said, ‘if that’s the case I’ll spend the money on the Coast to make it permanent and increase its capacity.

“But to build the world’s best aquatic centre right here in Brisbane has my full support.”

Cr Tate said it made sense for the hockey to be moved to the Gold Coast and said there was still hope the Gold Coast could host the rowing at Hinze Dam.

He told the crowd the Gold Coast was still open to doing “a Steven Bradbury” and hosting the event “if there was a hiccup” with the Rockhampton plans.

“Let’s see what happens,” he said.

Originally published as Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s thumbs up for 2032 Olympics and Paralympics Games plans