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Olympics 2032: Sunshine Coast venues, events revealed as Brisbane bid nears success

A full list of venues and events coming to the Sunshine Coast has been revealed as the 2032 Olympics bid verges on victory.

Brisbane Olympics 2032 Master Plan

New and improved venues, major transport upgrades and a satellite athletes' village in the heart of the new Maroochydore city centre are looming as Brisbane's 2032 Olympic bid could be confirmed within weeks.

The bid to host the 2032 Games across the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and other regions is on the cusp of victory, after a major endorsement overnight.

The International Olympic Committee executive board recommended in the early hours of Friday to put the Brisbane bid to a full vote in July.

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It meant if the bid could win the backing of a majority of the more than 100 Committee members, the Games could be secured within weeks, with final scrutiny to take place on July 20-21 ahead of the Tokyo Games.

A 94-page document released by the International Olympic Committee revealed what was at stake for the Sunshine Coast.

A concept map showing the Coast venues and infrastructure released overnight on Friday.
A concept map showing the Coast venues and infrastructure released overnight on Friday.

The Coast was set to be one of three venue zones in the southeast, with four venues earmarked for the region.

A fly-through video showed a Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre at Kawana to host basketball preliminaries, while football prelims would be held at an upgraded 20,000-capacity Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Alexandra Headland would host road cycling, marathon, race walking and kiteboarding, while the Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre would showcase the hinterland during Olympic mountain biking.

The documents state there was also an option to host the basketball preliminaries at the "planned Sunshine Coast Exhibition and Convention Centre" which the report described as "another important legacy project to be situated in the Maroochydore city centre".

Supplied artist impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment if Brisbane won the rights to the 20332 Olympic Games.
Supplied artist impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment if Brisbane won the rights to the 20332 Olympic Games.

The report stated planned venues would be built irrespective of the Games and new venues were only proposed where required for legacy and the venue supported growth of the region.

Sailing appeared destined to be held at the Manly Harbour, having previously been touted as a potential Alexandra Headland-Mooloolaba event.

The proposed indoor sports centre would have a capacity of 6000 spectators, while other capacities proposed included 5000 people for marathon and race walking, 5000 for road cycling and 10,000 people at the Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre (2000 seated and 8000 standing).

A studio hub was also proposed for the Coast, as well as a 1300-bed satellite village in the new CBD and a festival/live site was also proposed in Caloundra.

The proposed satellite village "leverages a housing development in the Maroochydore city centre, fully secured from any adjacent developments" the document states.

"This unique opportunity will ensure all Sunshine Coast athletes and team officials are co-located, in close proximity to competition and training venues as well as beaches and entertainment districts within the heart of the Sunshine Coast," the report states.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe look at artist impressions before a press conference at the Gabba in Brisbane in April. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe look at artist impressions before a press conference at the Gabba in Brisbane in April. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

The proposed residential buildings could include space on lower levels for dining, offices, storage and fitness and recreation services, with regular shuttles to connect to venues and the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Village.

Infrastructure upgrades included improved rail networks, Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrades, Bruce Highway upgrades and improvements to the Nicklin Way.

Mapping included in the document showed an existing rail network along the coastal corridor.

Athletes would experience average travel times of 19 minutes with all venues to be located within 40 minutes of the respective athlete accommodation.

The Coast was also in line to host the Paralympic cycling and marathon, with up to 5000 spectators, as well as a satellite village.

The new Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre would be operated and maintained by Sunshine Coast Council and would be completed "well in advance of the Games to maximise community benefit".

School calendars would have to be shuffled around in 2032, with proposed dates for the 2032 Olympics from July 23 - August 8 and August 24 - September 5 for the Paralympics.

A delegation working to secure the Brisbane 2032 bid. Picture Supplied
A delegation working to secure the Brisbane 2032 bid. Picture Supplied

The report also flagged the Sunshine Coast as a potential host site for a mass participation event, similar to the public marathon staged during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

The documents stated current concepts under consideration included road events, with the Sunshine Coast the target location "to minimise disruption in the Brisbane zone" and other events that could be accommodated.

Councils were set to play a significant role in the Games deliver with cleaning, waste services, city activations, visitor services, local traffic and transport management and venue operations all falling under council remit.

The report states the federal government had given the bid its full support.

Financial modelling forecast a total revenue of $4.942bn, which included an International Olympic Committee contribution of $905m and $1.27bn worth of ticket sales.

Expenditure was estimated to be $4.942bn, delivering a cost-neutral Games, with spending to include $689.7m on venue infrastructure, $646.49m on technology and an $809.7m contingency.

KPMG analysis estimated benefits of up to $6.1bn USD to Queensland and $13.4bn USD nationally.

Tourism could be boosted by up to $15.3bn USD in overnight visitation expenditure.

About 91,600 full-time equivalent job years were set to be created in Queensland and 122,900 full-time equivalent job years across the country, if the Games bid was successful.

Originally published as Olympics 2032: Sunshine Coast venues, events revealed as Brisbane bid nears success

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/olympics-2032-sunshine-coast-venues-events-revealed-as-brisbane-bid-nears-success/news-story/f4e22020636e185bce79a264fbb7709f