Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio confident in Games bid after meeting with Australian Olympic Committee CEO

Toowoomba is hoping to host events or teams at a successful Olympic Games bid in 2032, and it’s been boosted by a high-profile visit.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio (right) meets with Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll to discuss the 2032 Olympic Games bid from Brisbane.

Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio says a recent meeting with the CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee has helped put the city in the box seat to be involved in the potential 2032 Games in Brisbane.

Cr Antonio and the councillors met with AOC chief executive Matt Carroll on Tuesday, before enjoying a dinner with some of Toowoomba’s leading stakeholders to discuss the city’s involvement in the bid.

It comes a week after the council voted to partner up with the State Government if southeast Queensland won the right to host the Games.

The mayor said Mr Carroll was impressed with what the city had to offer, noting many of its facilities could be easily upgraded to host events or teams across a variety of sports.

“We made it clear we want to be involved and he was very supportive of our cause — I think we’ve built a rapport,” Cr Antonio said.

“I believe we need to do an analysis of what is needed to upgrade our facilities to Olympic standards — when that’s done, we know where we stand.

“The State Government owns the Athletics Oval, and the showgrounds have been a centre for equestrian events for many years.

“It’s an opportunity we can’t let go past us.”

Cr Antonio also reiterated his long-held view that external funding would be needed from the State and Federal Governments, particularly when it came to high-speed passenger rail to connect Toowoomba to Brisbane more efficiently.