Queensland Olympics 2032: Delegation meets with IOC boss in Lausanne
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged a Queensland is ready to host a “safe and welcoming Games” in 2032 during high-level meetings with the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland.
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged a Queensland is ready to host a “safe and welcoming Games” in 2032 during high-level meetings with the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland.
The Premier, who is heading back to Queensland early to lead the bushfire emergency response, met with IOC boss Thomas Bach and his executive at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Tuesday night Australian time.
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The Australian reports Mr Bach used the word “impressive’’ at least six times about the Queensland 2032 plans when speaking to reporters on Tuesday night and when questioned if there were sticking points the team needed to work on, he said simply: “no’’.
It comes as China and Russia have emerged as the main rivals, with Shanghai and St Petersburg understood to be readying bids for 2032.
The high-powered bids from two superpowers would join other bidding candidates such as a joint North-South Korea pitch, Mumbai, Johannesburg and Jakarta.
Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland’s greatest asset was its “can do’’ mentality.
“We will provide a safe and welcoming Games,’’ she said.
“There is no other place like Queensland on the planet.’’
In the meeting, the Queensland delegation heard from the IOC on what its expectations are, particularly around transport infrastructure, security and athlete comfort.
The IOC will appoint a Host Commission by the end of the year. Its job will be to assess the quality of the bid cities and recommend a country.
That recommendation would then be assessed by the IOC executive committee, before finally being signed off by the 105 IOC delegates,
This would be likely by 2022.
Ms Palaszczuk shared a private one-on-one meeting with Mr Bach in Lausanne before the official meeting.
She and Mr Bach warmly embraced on her arrival. They had met a year ago at the Sport Accord on the Gold Coast.
Ms Palaszczuk spent Monday night at a private dinner with AOC president John Coates and Star Entertainment Group chairman John O’Neill.
They dined at the same Lausanne restaurant overlooking Lake Geneva where Phil Collins was married.
Ms Palaszczuk has jettisoned the last leg of her Olympic sojourn. She was due to inspect Paris Olympic facilities but is returning to Queensland which is in the grip of a bushfire emergency.
Originally published as Queensland Olympics 2032: Delegation meets with IOC boss in Lausanne
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