AOC WELCOMES QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO 2032 OLYMPIC GAMES CANDIDATURE

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has welcomed today’s announcement by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk that her government will pursue the opportunity to host the 2032 Olympic Games in Queensland.

In commending the decision by Cabinet, AOC President John Coates AC said sport in Queensland and Australia more broadly will be super-charged if Queensland was to host the Games.

"Sport unites us and inspires us. We have a lot of work to do from here, but it’s hard not to be excited about the benefits that will flow over many decades if Queensland was successful.

"This is not about a few weeks of sport. It’s about a decade of opportunity for sport, the community and the economy, leading into the Games - and for decades after. But now we have to focus on ensuring Queensland mounts a compelling case.

Mr Coates says the Value Proposition Assessment (VPA) process to evaluate the benefits and implications of hosting, ensured Cabinet had the critical information to make an informed decision.

"Quite rightly, this was not a decision to be taken in haste. However, we now have the Federal Government, the Queensland Government, the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (COMSEQ) and the AOC joined at the hip to take a Queensland candidature forward.

"We know the business community recognises the economic benefits that will flow, but it is vitally important that the community is kept fully informed.

"Critical to that, is an understanding that hosting an Olympic Games these days is a very different beast. The days of the white elephant are gone thanks to sweeping changes made by the International Olympic Committee."

"The New Norm changes announced in 2018 ensure future hosts use existing facilities or temporary facilities. If there’s a lasting sport and community benefit, then new facilities can play a part, but the focus is on delivering a Games that is cost effective and flexible.

"And we learned this year that the IOC would contribute US$1.8 billion towards the operating costs of the Games effectively ensuring the Games would be cost-neutral.

Mr Coates said he looked forward to this week’s meeting of the Olympic Candidature Leadership Group (OCLG) to work through governance arrangements and the next necessary steps in compiling a Candidature File which would be presented to the International Olympic Committee before the Tokyo Olympic Games in July 2020.

AOC

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