Sir Rols

We’ve had the first hand example here of Victoria ‘26. That was already big, beyond just games watchers channels. Bri-xit would be HUGE. And the NOlympics movement would be ecstatic. It would make World front pages. Miles and Qld Labor would have nothing to gain. They’re already staring at defeat in October. Brixit would only compound that loss. Better to hang in and hopefully limit the loss and save a few extra seats. And leave a poison pill for the LNP to deal with - who so far cannily are avoiding taking and stand at all on the stadium issue. If anyone was going to pull the plug, Labor would leave it to the LNP do do the dirty work.

I still see cancellation at this stage as highly unlikely. It’s telling that the wider media - especially the Courier Mail and other Murdoch titles who would otherwise love to find another angle to beat us on Miles and Labor - haven’t picked up and ran with the story, which after all would be one of the biggest Australian and Olympic news items if there was much substance to it. Personally, at a few points over the past few days I’ve just wondered if it’s time for Brisbane to just pack it in and hand them back. I mean, it’s not like I was ever greatly enthused or excited by them (which itself is weird for an Aussie Olympic fan). And AF’s constant insistent messianic boosting of them actually turned me off even more over the past few years. And the Qld govt sh!t show of the past few days is really pretty embarrassing and unedifying and hardly inspires confidence. And, yeah, a little schadenfreude part of me would be intrigued to see how a withdrawal would pan out - to see egg on the faces of the IOC, particularly Bach and Coates, and see the scramble for damage control and a new host. But, really, as I’ve said before, it’s the nuclear option that nobody - the Qld Government, the Australian Government and the IOC - would ever want to see eventuate. It would just destroy too many reputations - and possibly the games themselves.

I’ve found this link, provided originally by @Bear to be invaluable for looking at paywalled articles. As it’s tucked away in a Brisbane ceremonies thread, thought it would be useful to post here for easy access to everyone https://archive.ph/ Just put the paywalled article’s url in the box there there, prove you’re not a robot, and it'll archive it w/o paywall

Fair enough, but both sides need to be on the record. As to the cancellation story, there’s also the rejoinder in this version: “After receiving advice the Queensland government decided to go ahead with the Olympics. It is said that they decided it would be "better value for taxpayers" and "Queensland's reputation". Sun.com

Miles govt denies claims it’s sought advice to cancel Brisbane 2032 Games

Hmmm. I’d wait and see if anything more comes out of that cancel story. It might well be the case the govt inquired about the cost of doing so. How serious that was, however, is surely just conjecture at the moment. In the meantime, Coates has come out with his statement on the recent decisions. Olympics supremo John Coates reveals why he advised Steven Miles ignore independent Olympics review When asked about his involvement in government decision making Mr Coates, speaking from Switzerland, said he was only “reminding them” of obligations to the IOC. “I am the IOC member in Australia and it’s my duty to remind them the basis upon which they bid for the games,” he said. “If we don’t honour those arrangements there’s plenty of other countries that can say why did you give it to Brisbane when they didn’t have all the venues? “Qatar is saying why don’t you give us a crack… we have all the venues… the Germans thought they were pre-empted. “The IOC went ahead and on the basis of its requirements of existing or planned venues, moved us up.” Mr Coates argued the upgrade to Nathan’s QSAC for Olympic track and field events could be completed for as little as $500m to $600m – with IOC experts made available to travel to Australia to assess required work. “I don’t see it as a given that it’s necessary to spend $1.6bn on QSAC,” he said. “It just looked to me to grab all the potential costs to suit the case of not using that existing venue. “What needs to be done is to explore whether you can reuse the grandstand on the western side or knock it down.” Mr Coates acknowledged there would be no problem with a world-class stadium at Victoria Park hosting the Olympic events and ceremonies. “If they’d decided to go ahead that would have been fine, they would have had to say it wasn’t Olympic related. “The Olympics will go and use venues that are there but we don’t want the blame and we don’t want to cost of stadia that aren’t necessary.” Full article: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news...w/news-story/7223cf9ecbf3fa437fcfefb7d350e796

You’d think so, but one of the main sticking points is what to do with AFL and cricket in Brisbane while the Gabba would have been out of operation during a rebuild. Neither the AFL or ACB were keen in using their own funds to pay for upgraded temporary facilities at the showground. It’s actually one thing that pisses me off about the major sporting codes here - the AFL, NRL, ARU and ACB. They expect governments to fund stadiums for them. They should be prepared to invest significantly themselves if they’re going t get commercial benefits from them.

It was $6.9 billion in 2000. Whatever that would translate to in today’s figures. More acceptable then, but even so, cost was still occasionally an issue in the years 1993-2000, albeit on a far less heated scale and more bipartisan political support. It would be a far different climate to get that through today. I think it would inevitable become toxic as well. Thank heavens we got it done when we could.

And it would be incredibly expensive now, and instantly dismissed by the IOC under its “New Norm” rules today.

Doesn’t need to be river (I actually detest the idea of using the Brisbane Rver - too much been there, done that). But beachside? Parkside? Only takes some imagination .

And it won’t. The venues will look impressive enough in competition. I think it’s more betraying an insecurity complex - and putting to much emphasis on 1980s pics - to think it’s going to look “cheap”. C’mon. That’s re-writing history. Sydney was (for the time) acceptable cost, and used a good public-private funding model, but it wasn’t low cost or even non-grandiose. An entirely new Olympic Park built from scratch on industrial wasteland comprising a major showpiece stadium, warm-up facilities, aquatic centre, indoor arena, Showground arena and halls, hockey fields, hotel, rail link and more, featuring designs from local “star” architects like Philip Cox and others. It would NEVER be acceptable under today’s “New Norm” requirements.

Actually, that’s the part I’m more sceptical about. Suncorp looks to me rather constrained for ceremonies. Looks to me a tight fit to get all the athletes from the parade on the field. I’d be more inclined to look to the Paris example and explore a more innovative, out-of-stadium ceremony option.

That’s about all athletics can expect at any time. Apart from hoping maybe to host an IAAF World Championship one day, athletics abilities in large stadiums are a nuisance more than a legacy in most cases. Brisbane wasn’t awarded the Olympics because it promised a large new stadium for athletics. It was awarded (or at least justified) as providing a low-cost minimal build model for hosting.

I’m sorry, but I think that’s exactly what the IOC wants of the “New Norm” - or at least what the IOC expected when they chose Brisbane on it’s original plans, and show they’re still expecting when it, via Coates, clearly states its preference is for the lower cost option. If Qld has interpreted it as anything, it’s to forget what they promised and say “the rules don’t apply to us. Now we’ve got them, let’s change the plans and dream bigger”. Miles (I suspect largely under the direction or at least encouragement of the IOC) is about the only one who’s been trying to bring back on track with the original proposal. And I don’t think the size and modernity of the stadiums is what drives the success of an Olympics. TV viewers in the US, or China, or wherever aren’t going to turn off the Olympics because the stadium doesn’t look new enough or that the stadium is seating 40,000 instead of 50,000. I’m more inclined with Puppy on this one. QSAC is perfectly serviceable. By the time it gets new grandstands and all the attractive cladding and banners with the Brisbane look is in place, it’ll come across just as nice on TV as it would in the Gabba. And athletics - and Olympic fans - just have to get over the notion that track and field s entitled to huge showpiece stadiums that can’t support an athletics legacy at any other time.

Scaled-down 2026 Commonwealth Games? While it’s in ITG’s new confusing style, a couple of interesting points in there. It seems Malaysia’s plan is still facing some opposition internally in the country, and there is some talk of co-hosting with Singapore.

Spot on, Stefan. In their rush to finesse the process, the IOC seem to have elevated secrecy and absolute blind political guarantees to top place, and put comprehensive venue plans into the “optional” category.

Paris will again be the city of love ❤️ Intimacy ban lifted for athletes ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics The intimacy ban for Paris Olympics has been lifted with organisers making 300,000 free condoms available in the athletes village.

The thing is, the IOC don’t care what is spent longer term - just that the 2032 balance sheet can be shown as “New Norm” minimum spend compliant.

Dare we say, historic? Unprecedented? Done and dusted?

And Bingo! We have lucky stadium number four!

And the winner is…

Why not indeed? There’s till time to announce that before tonight’s news bulletins

Only one? But wait! Who said Brisbane won’t get a legacy? They’re getting a new statue! Meanwhile, Matildas will be commemorated in bronze at Suncorp Stadium The Queensland government has commissioned Brisbane-based Urban Arts Project to deliver a permanent tribute to the Matildas at Suncorp Stadium. With public support for the national women’s football team surging after the World Cup, the government has committed to a bronze sculpture outside the venue. It will measure approximately 6 metres wide and 2.5 metre high, dwarfing the Wally Lewis statue. Australian players celebrate the Matildas’ win over France at Suncorp Stadium in 2023.CREDIT: BRADLEY KANARIS/GETTY The sculpture will be based on one of the photos of Matildas players celebrating a win. “Queenslanders rode the unbelievable high of the quarter-final penalty shootout win over France, lifting the roof off the best football stadium in the country,” Sport Minister Michael Healy said. “Around Australia, we were united behind this fantastic team. They made us all incredibly proud. “The tribute may be a snapshot of a moment in 2023, but that moment will now live forever and inspire future generations of young footballers to take on the world.” SMH

I think this is the only appropriate thing to post now

Jeezus! Go out for an hour and come back to find we’re onto our third Olympic Stadium in less than 24 hours! You couldn’t make this stuff up!