Brisbane has taken a huge step towards staging the 2032 Olympic Games after being chosen as the IOC’s preferred partner to host the event.
Australian Olympic chief John Coates says Brisbane’s bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games is as good as a done deal after it was awarded exclusive negotiation rights.
The Olympics and Paralympics are set to return to Australia after Brisbane, and the state of Queensland, was installed as the preferred bidder for the event by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at an executive committee meeting.
Numerous other cities including Budapest, Istanbul and Doha had previously flagged interest in hosting the 2032 Games.
But the Australian bid has long been considered the favourite and is now the sole candidate as part of a new decision-making system designed to avoid cities unlikely of winning the rights wasting money on their bids.
Brisbane now has to go through some formalities before the IOC makes a host city announcement, possibly before Tokyo’s rescheduled Games begin in July.
“It was a long night … but a very mature decision from the IOC,” said Coates, who stepped out of the virtual meeting for more than two hours while the Brisbane bid was discussed early on Thursday morning.
“The IOC now deal exclusively with us while we complete the questionnaire.
“The other cities who have shown interest have been parked … it’s significant recognition.
“It will go to a vote and we’ve got to get 50 per cent plus one – I’ll be able to get those numbers.”
Brisbane, if negotiations conclude successfully, would be the third Australian city to host the Games after Melbourne had the honour in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
Coates, who is also IOC vice president, said staging the Olympics would essentially cost Queensland nothing.
The IOC is promising at least $2.5 billion to cover the Games’ operations with further costs covered by sponsorships and ticket sales.
IOC president Thomas Bach said Brisbane “proposes sustainable Games in line with the region’s long-term strategy and using primarily existing and temporary venues”.
About 90 per cent of the proposed venues fit into those categories, with 10 per cent new or upgraded venues planned to coincide with the growth of Queensland over the next 11 years.
A 50,000 capacity Brisbane Olympic Stadium for ceremonies and athletics, as well as a 15,000-seat Brisbane Indoor Sports Centre to host basketball and a 15,000-seat Brisbane Arena for swimming and water polo are the three major new stadiums proposed in preliminary planning.
These sports could be hosted at existing venues though, with organisers conscious of avoiding “white elephants” seen in previous Olympic cities within Brazil and Greece.
A report in February forecast the south-east Queensland bid would deliver a $36 billion windfall for the state.
Bach said the decision to make Brisbane it’s preferred partner was “was not a decision against anybody”.
“The commitment of Australia and Oceania to Olympic sports has grown remarkably since the fantastic Olympic Games Sydney 2000,” he said.
“This is why we see such strong public support.
“We decided to seize an opportunity to take to the next stage our discussions about returning 32 years later.”
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
I do agree that glory days of Olympics are over. Now each sport has regular world championships and reasonable coverage. I am biased through, as I refer to the main sports I like running, swimming and track cycling.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
I am happy, track is one of my favorite sports. Will be interesting to see which stadium hosts aths and opening ceremony. While the GABBA is centrally located, a pop in track built on an artificial floor raised above ground, like that proposed at LA games, would leave a capacity below 40,000.
Nick
Guest
Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are part of SE Qld. Some days it takes 2 to 3 hours to travel 150kms. Who wants to travel to see an event and take that long. There is no transport infrastructure and highly doubtful it would be much improved in 11 years.
Paul2
Guest
"Meanwhile, we have nothing suitable for normal weekly use. We badly need a boutique stadium for soccer" You have a stadium for weekly use: Lang Park. I understand that it basically never even half fills for an Aleague match and you'd prefer something smaller. Still you can't expect the taxpayer to wear the costs of a boutique stadium when an existing, centrally located stadium is massively underutilised.
Popavalium Andropoff
Guest
CBUS Stadium? It holds about 30K and has a better surface than Suncorp.
Popavalium Andropoff
Guest
Could QEII Stadium in Nathan be redeveloped because of the bid? And what about smaller venues like Perry Park?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
if you mean the stadium review a year or two back - hardly an analysis, more a 'this is what you wanted to hear. But yes, they did decide that if any new clubs wanted to start up in Qld they had to use the existing facilities, Suncorp, Metricon or Townsville. They overlooked the greater need in the community which is the boutique sized stadium, like AAMI Park in Melbourne. Suncorp is too big at 60k capacity and rarely fills short of three or four times a year, and for concerts. Metricon rarely if ever fills, and Townsville gets max of 15 uses a year. Meanwhile, we have nothing suitable for normal weekly use. We badly need a boutique stadium for soccer, and the steadly growing women's sports that use rectangular grounds,
max power
Guest
its pretty obvious no one else is interested anymore. Brisbane hosting hte white elephant, well done
Don
Roar Rookie
The analysis was done and the Government decided Brisbane had sufficient stadiums and there was no requirement for another. Whilst Soccer and Super Rugby would prefer a smaller stadium to avoid the optics of playing in a half empty Suncorp, it didn’t stack up economically for the State Government to build a smaller stadium. Better to have Suncorp being used regularly and generating income than to build something smaller which really doesn’t bring more events to Brisbane and simply dilutes use of the facility we already have.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
A second NRL team might really benefit if it's the Jets or Dolphins bid. Money will be poured into that boutique stadium.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
they desperately need a 25K capacity rectangular stadium around the city, for soccer and other rectangular sports. The women's world cup is in Australia in 2023 and will need one. The only existing one, Metricon on the Goldie, is in the wrong place, and Suncorp is too big.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
It's a regional bid - SE QLD, not Brisbane, and as they have said, 90% of the infrastructure is already in place. It's improvements that are to be made.
Nick
Guest
Does this mean anyone living more than 80km from the CBD will live with failing infrastructure for another 59 years? Hope no-one on either of the coasts wants to go to any events will take hours to get there and back There is a reason only Qld was considered as the preferred event holder all other countries know they will be left with debt.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Interesting. Do you know what suburb/area north east of the CBD?
David
Guest
The current 1st option is a new 50,000 seat Stadium just north east of the CBD which the IOC has said is big enough (no need for 80,000 anymore) which really suits Brisbane and the Lions/Cricket perfectly long term. The Gabba by then will be well and truely outdated and this new site they’ve proposed looks promising
jamesb
Roar Guru
Well much easier to get an Olympics than a men's football world cup...
David
Guest
I think we are in a unique position to be the most cost effective games in a long time. The IOC are putting in $2.5 Billion straight off the bat, there was no investment like that for the Commonwealth games. With sponsorship and ticketing that’s your $4-5 billion right there of income, and with 85% of facilities either exisiting or extremely cheap temporary set ups, it’s easy to see how this could be cost neutral. The Qld government will pay for the new 50,000 seat stadium (which is needed anyways with the GABBA aging), Brisbane Arena is already about to start construction and is not tied to the Olympics, and other than those they could feasibly not have to build anything else basically. The transport infrastructure required is badly needed anyways and this gives them a reason to actually invest. Of course costs could blow out, especially if they were to make decisions like building a new aquatics centre instead of just using the GC2018 one but the path is there to have the most cost effective games in modern times
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
The fact there is only one serious entry tells you everything you need to know about the 'desirability' of hosting the games. It is widely considered a poisoned chalice and this is becoming increasingly evident.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Really wish this wasn't coming here. I can organize a big party for two weeks for a lot less money.
Prez
Roar Rookie
SE Queensland will be great for the Olympics. This is exciting news for sport lovers.