IOC members’ date with $5bn Brisbane Olympic Games dream

A Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will cost $5bn, with the opening and closing ceremonies to cost $85m and the torch relay another $30m.

The decision on whether the Queensland capital and regions in the state’s southeast will hold the Games in 11 years will be made around 6pm on Wednesday. Image supplied by URBIS (LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS)

A Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will cost $5bn in today’s money, with the razzamatazz of the opening and closing ceremonies at the redeveloped Gabba slated to cost $85m and the nationwide torch relay another $30m.

A glossy 92-page document, headed by a photo of tennis star Ash Barty showing a young Indigenous girl how to hold a racquet, was sent to International Olympic Committee members several months ago responding to a raft of questions about how a Brisbane Games would be organised.

The 87 IOC members to vote in Tokyo on Wednesday night have had two months scrutinising the bid plans, including a web hook-up for a detailed technical overview last month.

To put the $5bn cost into perspective, it is estimated the Tokyo Games will cost more than $20bn, inflated from the original $13bn estimate by Covid-related blowouts.

Queensland Premier Annastacia speaks to the media upon arrival at Haneda Airport.

The decision on whether the Queensland capital and regions in the state’s southeast will hold the Games in 11 years will be made around 6pm (AEST).

The proposed Brisbane 2032 operating budget predicts the bulk of the Games income will come from domestic sponsorship of $1.7bn and ticket sales of $1.3bn.

The document also confirms that the IOC’s contribution from international broadcast rights will be at least $951m, or 19 per cent of the Games budget.

IOC president Thomas Bach indicated the IOC contribution could be increased depending on future TV rights negotiations in some regions for the 2032 Games.

The members have been told a Brisbane Olympic Games organising committee, to be constituted by the end of the year, would receive 35 per cent of its budget from domestic sponsors. The IOC’s global sponsorship tier, the TOP program, would contribute another $446m or 9 per cent of the budget. Ticket sales ($1.3bn) are slated to bring in 26 per cent of the budget.

While there were initial suggestions the opening and closing ceremonies could feature a Brisbane riverfront-style extravaganza, the ability to hold the main show within a 50,000-seat redeveloped Gabba will greatly boost ticket sales revenue.

The proposed budget, which is neutrally costed, will be expected to increase in line with inflation, but it gives an idea as to the relative costs of various items of income and expenditure.

A Brisbane organising committee says it will spend $690m on existing and new venues. The plan is to use at least 31 existing or temporary facilities and four new community centres already in the pipeline to meet future population growth needs. It is proposed a new Brisbane Arena will replace the Brisbane Entertainment Centre to host swimming events and a new whitewater centre would be built at Redlands.

But the biggest spending is on the Sport and Games operations, which look after around 11,000 athletes and their entourages with accommodation, food, medical support and transport and will draw on 21 per cent of the budget, or $1.052bn.

Brisbane Olympics 2032 bid screengrabs presented at this year's Tokyo Olympics in the hope of winning the race to host the Games.

Athletes are to be housed an average travel time of 19 minutes from venues, with the athlete villages in Brisbane (10,729 beds) and the Gold Coast (2600 beds), and smaller satellite villages on the Sunshine Coast and Wyaralong.

Brisbane organisers are also planning to spend $646m on technology and $796m on people management.

The pitch to members draws upon the hugely successful experience many would remember from the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

The document says: “To this day, Australians recount to their children stories of their proudest Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games moments, hopeful that these young people will have their opportunity of a lifetime in 2032. This is the greatest legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We aspire to be entrusted as worthy hosts again in 2032.’’

Meeting with the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo.

We’re getting ready for the final pitch to host the 2032 Olympic Games.

No matter where you live, I encourage you to share in this moment.

Queensland, it’s our time to shine ⭐️#Brisbane2032pic.twitter.com/DSUEVn7Lrc

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 20, 2021

Members have been told the benefits of the Games are broad and deep, and examples have included partnerships and engagement with, and promotion of cultural values of, First Nations people, and promoting the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.

IOC members also have been reminded of the Australian Institute of Sport and Queensland Academy of Sport. Members have also been reassured that a Brisbane Games would develop a centre of excellence for para-sport.