Commonwealth Games 2018: Dawn Fraser says Gold Coast tourist boom still to come

OLYMPIC swimming great Dawn Fraser has praised an “absolutely fantastic” Commonwealth Games and believes the next two years will see international visitors flock to the Gold Coast, despite empty streets during the event itself.

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OLYMPIC great Dawn Fraser has tipped a boom in international tourism off the back of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

“I think in the next two years we will have so many visitors from overseas because the camera-work that has been going on has been absolutely fantastic,” Fraser said at The Star Celebration Lawn.

Dawn Fraser and Natalie Cook at the Beach Volleyball on day eight of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at Coolangatta. Picture: Getty

“We’ve had very good weather. We’ve had a few rainy days but the weather here on the Gold Coast has been absolutely fantastic. And the organisation, the volunteers, everything has gone down very smoothly.”

Fraser, 80, has been a regular in the stands throughout the games.

Obviously she was front and centre for the swimming but she also attended events including the Rugby Sevens, basketball, beach volleyball and badminton.

Stephanie Rice, Lisa Curry and Dawn Fraser gather at Longines Records Club for the Women in Sport lunch. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Earlier in the games she also attended a women in sport luncheon at the Longines Records Club.

“I think women are being treated nicely in sport now, whereas before they were put behind the back door,” she said.

“They wanted the male influence and that was when the males were up there on board decisions, they were up there with high sponsorship, high money for their sport.

“Now, if you have a look at women’s cricket, now they are starting to have a look at them putting them up into the men’s salary range and I think that is going to apply to all sports.”

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2018: Dawn Fraser says Gold Coast tourist boom still to come