AustralianFan

Morrison encourages Qld govt to 'get all in' on Olympics bid https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6058738309001 13/07/2019|2min Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sung the praises of Queensland at the state's LNP convention in Brisbane on Saturday, encouraging its 2032 Olympics bid. The Prime Minister has told the party faithful that 'Queensland is capable of achieving anything', and while the Sydney Olympic Games were the 'greatest games ever', Queenslanders 'will not let that stand'. The state government also came under fire, accused of dragging its heels, with Mr Morrison announcing it's 'time for the Queensland government to get all in on this bid'. As part of his push to back a 2032 Queensland Olympic Games, the Prime Minister nominated Sunshine Coast federal MP Ted O'Brien to build the bid.

IOC President Bach Impressed By Australian PM’s Commitment To Olympic Bid Posted on 1 July, 2019, 11:51 AM by Robert Livingstone in Featured, Future Summer Bids Australia’s bid to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Queensland received high-profile support on a powerful stage Sunday in Japan. On the sidelines of the G20 Summit being held in Osaka, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President and IOC Vice President John Coates met to discuss the fledgling bid led by Queensland state capital Brisbane. Morrison, who’s government committed AUD $10 million towards preparing an Olympic bid said Sunday “A Brisbane Olympics has the potential to be a game-changer for southeast Queensland and my government will be there every step of the way,” according to The Australian. “Just like in Sydney, a Queensland Olympics, led by Brisbane, would be an economic and job boom and would show off the entire state to the world. “The Sydney Olympics set a new standard for the Olympic Games and the IOC still praise its success almost 20 years later. I have no doubt that Queenslanders, in true Origin spirit, would want to go one better in Brisbane in 2032 and show the world ‘how good is Queensland’. “But to achieve this, we all have to work together and show we are a united team, especially governments at commonwealth, state and local level.” Bach was invited to the G20 meeting by Japan’s Prime Minster Shinzo Abe where the 2020 edition of the Olympics will be held in Tokyo. It marked the first time an IOC President has addressed the powerful summit. Later, Bach said “I was impressed by the clear and strong level of commitment of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his government for Olympic Games in Queensland, Australia.” “He made it very clear that Olympic Games would fit 100 per cent into his government’s ten years infrastructure planning. This early commitment and the well-known enthusiasm of the Aussies for sport are a great foundation for the Olympic Games 2032 in Queensland.” While still early in the bid process, new bidding rules approved by the IOC last week stipulate that a host city or region could be elected at any time – putting new pressure on any cities that have been considering a shot at the 2032 edition. Bids being mulled by other places including Jakarta in Indonesia, Germany, Shanghai in China, India and jointly between North and South Korea – that have until now been contemplating a 2023 application deadline – face new pressures to ramp up their projects quickly. Coates said last month that the Australian bid could be considered for election as early as next year, though Bach later commented that that timeline is too aggressive. Bach said “for sure there will be no election for 2032 this year and at this moment in time I can also not see it for next year.” Coates said Sunday ““The Prime Minister made it very clear that he was enthused by what he heard at the meeting and that the Federal Government was ready to move forward.” “Thomas Bach conveyed the new flexible approach the IOC has adopted to create a dialogue with potential Games’ hosts and for Games to be hosted in several cities or regions. There’s no question a Games could be held in Queensland that suits this model. “We have significant existing sports infrastructure across multiple locations in South East Queensland,” Coates added, naming locations such a Townsville and Cairns that could host preliminary events. But he cautioned against a model that is too widespread. “President Bach warned against spreading events too far, being mindful of comments from the athlete Members of the IOC, who are concerned about the loss of the magic for athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees, coming together,” Coates explained. “There needs to be sufficient accommodation for not only the teams but also technical officials, media and spectators, as well as additional broadcasting costs having to be considered.” Coates outlined a plan to move forward with the bid quickly, including the formation of the leadership group, the completion of an economic feasibility study by the Queensland Government and finalization of the competition venue masterplan. “There is no doubt [government leaders] understood President Bach’s message that the Games will pay for themselves, based on the IOC’s contribution of at least AUD $2.5 billion, ticket sales revenue and national sponsorships and licensing.”

South-East Queensland's push to host the Olympics just got a little easier By Tara Cassidy - ABC News, Australia: 27 June, 2019 CREDIT: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-27/queensland-olympic-games-bid-just-got-easier/11257178 The odds of South-East Queensland becoming host to an Olympic Games has been given a boost overnight, due to an overhaul of the Olympic Games bidding process. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved key changes to electing future Olympic and Paralympic Games hosts at a session in Lausanne, Switzerland last night, allowing regions and countries to bid for the event. In the past only individual cities have been able to apply. The move is well timed for South-East Queensland's bid to host the 2032 Olympics. The changes will also see the end of the requirement to determine a Games host seven years prior to the event. IOC president Thomas Bach said the driving force that pushed the changes over the line was "the gap in public support". Many taxpayers worldwide hold the view that holding the two-week sporting spectacle is too expensive a luxury. In turn, changes were made to improve the attractiveness of hosting a games, by easing the bidding process and becoming less costly. 'It's a massive boost' Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he supported the new process, which not only strengthens South-East Queensland's chances of hosting a games, but increases the financial viability of bidding for many regions. "The announcement by the AOC overnight is really positive, it's a massive boost, there's no doubt about it," he said. "In the past the cost in bidding and hosting an Olympic Games were far higher. Previously, candidates applying to host the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games spent in excess of $40 million, compared with the $7-10 million spent by each candidate of the 2026 games. According to the Australian Olympic Committee, such prices will continue to be reduced. Two permanent future Host Commissions for both summer and winter games will also be set up to oversee interest of potential bidders, assess feasibility and make recommendations on applications. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said the commissions would "not necessarily wait until interested hosts come to the IOC, but will be pro-active and open minded to innovative proposals". Mr Coates said the IOC signing off on the changes was one of the most "significant milestones", in 123 years of the modern Olympics. "The Olympic Charter has now been changed to allow candidatures from multiple cities, from regions and countries, focused around existing sports venues," he said. "Instead of a single Olympic village, there can be Olympic villages to ensure that athletes are accommodated in close proximity to their competition venues. "Priority must be given to the use of existing or temporary venues, the construction of new permanent venues for the purpose of the Games will only be considered if a sustainable legacy can be shown," Mr Coates said. Queensland Major Events Minister Kate Jones said while the benefits of hosting an Olympic Games shouldn't be underestimated, it would need national support from the public and all levels of government. "This is significant, however, when you're looking at the largest sporting event in the world, you absolutely need the support of the Federal Government as we know this would involve significant investment," she said "Queensland is different to other states where we have more people living outside of the capital city than any other state, so that's why any major event that we host has to benefit regional Queensland as well." Earlier this year, the Council of Mayors (SEQ) said it would consider a multi-city bid for the 2032 games with events across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redland and Toowoomba.

IOC Vice President Hints 2032 Olympic Games Could Be Awarded In 2020, And To Australia Credit: Posted on Gamesbids.com By Robert Livingston June 13, 2019 11:14 am in Featured, Future Summer Bids International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President John Coates hinted Thursday that the 2032 Olympic Games could be awarded as early as next year, in 2020 – and he’s pushing for Brisbane in Australia to be named host. “The election by the IOC of the host for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games would normally be taken “seven years before” that is, in 2025,” Coates, who serves as President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), told the Future Tourism Forum in Brisbane. “However, if proposed changes to the Games host election process are approved in 12 days’ time and there is a candidate ready to put its hand up, this election could be as early as the IOC Session in Tokyo next year before the opening of the Games on 24 July.” Coates leads an IOC working group tasked with reforming the Olympic bid process, and last month his proposals were approved by the IOC Executive Board and will be put to a final member vote at a Session in Lausanne on June 25. A key component of the new proposal is to remove the timing requirement from the Olympic Charter mandating the election of the host city seven years prior to the scheduled opening of the Games. Instead, “election timings are to be flexible and adjusted to local opportunities, context and needs,” Coates said Thursday. His comments have led local media to believe that Australia has the inside track to host the 2032 Games. Coates was one of the key architects of the recent double-allocation of the Games to Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, the latter being awarded eleven years ahead of the first scheduled event. The IOC Vice President played up Australia’s chances for 2032, trying to convince politicians and stakeholders to jump at the opportunity. “Australia and Queensland have the proven capability to host major sports events, including the Olympic and Commonwealth Games,” he said. “The 2032 Olympic Games is there to win. I hope you will give it serious consideration.” To back up his enthusiasm, Coates pointed to favorable public support, existing infrastructure and a suitable Winter climate in Queensland that will enable the Games to take place in the required July and August time frame. He said the proposal was also cost effective when taking into account the USD $1.8 billion contribution from the IOC towards the operational budget. A recent poll commissioned by the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors revealed that more than 74 percent of people believe a SEQ Olympic bid would accelerate the delivery of transport infrastructure. Seventy-five per cent said they were likely to back an Olympic bid if it meant major transport upgrades would be delivered. “The SEQ Mayors embarked on an investigation of an Olympic Games with the belief that it would catalyse all levels of government to address the lack of transport investment in the region, and create a firm deadline to ensure it’s delivered,” Brisbane Mayor Cr Schrinner said according to MyGC.com.au. “The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is supportive of an Olympic Games only on the basis it delivers regional connectivity for the residents, businesses and visitors of SEQ. Both the SEQ Mayors and the community believe fast rail is key to fixing the region’s transport and congestion issues.” Coates has said in the past that transport upgrades must already be planned before an Olympic bid could move forward. But in the past, such major infrastructure projects that are time-boxed for Olympic Games delivery have been prone to major cost overruns, scope issues and delays. This has been seen while preparing for recent Games in PyeongChang, Rio de Janeiro and Sochi – among others. The IOC lauded Games concepts from Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 because plans did not include any Games specific transportation projects. However, a planned high speed rail project between the International Airport and Central Paris that was promised for the Games has been fraught with delays and will not be delivered by 2024. Many nations have already expressed interest in bidding for the 2032 Games including Indonesia, China, India, Germany and jointly between North and South Korea. Some of these nations have launched plans based on the expectation that the Games would be awarded in 2025.

... and yet neither Melbourne, nor any other Australian city or region is making any moves toward a bid. So let go of Melbourne, they’re not bidding. End of story. I’m a Melbourne resident and I know Melbourne have not yet shown any interest in a bid for 2032 or any other games. We are now in the Agenda 2020 era. A 2032 Brisbane/SE QLD bid has been shown to be very feasible under Agenda 2020. In Australia, only Brisbane and South East Queensland are making any moves ahead of a possible bid.

Brisbane Times, 6 May 2019 Lord of the Olympic rings says SEQ could host Games 'for free' The president of the powerful International Olympic Committee is "pretty impressed" with the level of detail in south-east Queensland's feasibility study into hosting the 2032 Games. With a motorcade of imposing all-black luxury vans parked out front of City Hall, IOC president Thomas Bach met Brisbane's new lord mayor Adrian Schrinner, telling him south-east Queensland could host an Olympic Games essentially for free. And when asked if 32 years would be enough time between two Australian Olympic Games - the same time period between Atlanta 1996 and the coming Los Angeles event in 2028 - the IOC president answered simply, "yes". Dr Bach and Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates are in Queensland for SportAccord 2019, one of the world's largest events for sporting and event officials, being held on the Gold Coast this week. The Olympic supremos rolled into Brisbane on Monday to meet with Cr Schrinner, who chairs the Council of Mayors South East Queensland, as well as Brisbane's former lord mayor, Graham Quirk. The Council of Mayors is considering a multi-city bid for the Olympic Games with events across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Redland, Moreton Bay and Logan instead of the traditional single-city bid. A feasibility study commissioned by the group revealed a total operating budget of $5.3 billion. It was expected the cost could be offset by a $1.7 billion contribution from the International Olympic Committee and $2.7 billion of domestic revenue, leaving a net cost of $900 million. However, it was on Monday revealed the International Olympic Committee would pitch in more cash than expected. Dr Bach said the committee would contribute US$1.8 billion to the Los Angeles Olympic Games to be held in 2028. "At least so far we have no indication that this will be less for 2032," he said. "I think this figure was new to the mayors and I could see them starting calculating in their heads and what this means for their feasibility study and for their budget." That translates to $2.58 billion coming in from the International Olympic Committee if south-east Queensland went ahead with the Games, rather than the $1.7 billion previously expected during the feasibility study. The net figure excludes the cost of infrastructure, including public transport, which Cr Schrinner said was already needed for the growing region. "The operating costs of the Games can be done in a cost-neutral manner," Cr Schrinner said. "This is a better outcome than we anticipated in our feasibility report." Last year's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games cost $1.2 billion. Dr Bach said the committee was "pretty impressed" with how detailed south-east Queensland's studies were but he did not want to compare it with other cities' planning because the 2032 Games were still 13 years away. Cr Schrinner said he did not believe a decision would need to be made on whether to progress to a formal bid until 2020. "The next step is getting the state and federal governments involved, we have been working closely with them already," he said. Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the city would be happy to make its facilities available for the Olympic bid. "However, I said that we won't be adding any dollars towards the funding part because we did a lot of our heavy lifting during the Commonwealth Games as far as our funding and budget's concerned," he said. "It's time that Gold Coast takes a break and lets Brisbane write the cheques." Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who will meet with Dr Bach on Tuesday, said any decision to stage a bid would be on the basis that it was in the best interests of "all of Queensland". "If there is to be a successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in south-east Queensland, it will require support from all levels of government - local, state and federal - as well as the private sector," she said. A potential Olympic Games bid for south-east Queensland was first flagged in 2015. Australia last hosted an Olympic Games in 2000, when Sydney was the host city.

Australia must get behind 2032 Games before bidding: IOC president Credit - Brisbane Times, 4 May 2019: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/australia-must-get-behind-2032-games-before-bidding-ioc-president-20190504-p51k2d.html International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says Australia must decide whether it wants to 'host the entire world' once more before it makes a final call about diving headlong into a bid for the 2032 Games. Bach was in Sydney to address the annual general meeting of the Australian Olympic Committee. It was the first time a sitting IOC president had done so and Bach also fronted a press conference where he addressed a suite of local and more global Olympic issues. Australia last hosted the Games in 2000 but Brisbane and the surrounding regions of Queensland's south-east are contemplating a bid. Paris and Los Angeles will host in 2024 and 2028 with Queensland a potential site for the next installment. A feasibility study by regional mayors said SEQ could host a Games but it would require $900m, not including vital upgrades to road and rail links. Brisbane's then Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, said that figure was less than the cost of hosting the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018. Bach said he was impressed with initial details, which conform to the Olympic Agenda 2020 ideals that require potential hosts to make use of existing venues, but there was a more fundamental decision to be made at the various levels of government. "We can't go into details at this very early stage. What I can read is that this concept is really reflecting the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020 by making excellent use of existing facilities," Bach said. "There would be no need to have any infrastructure being built for the purpose of the Games. This would lead to, I think, a pretty strong candidature. As has to be taken into consideration at the first stage is, for the Australians to say, 'Yes, we want to be a host to the entire world'. "That's the first decision. Yes, we want to host all athletes from the 206 national Olympic committees. If this will is clear, then the reforms offer them the chance for that to come true.

Does anyone have a link to the full replay of the 2018 Gold Coast Opening Ceremony? Been searching everywhere as have not seen it. Channel 7’s youtube parts 1-4 only go to just before the OC starts. Cheers,

Feasibility Study Supports A Brisbane 2032 Olympic Bid That Could Cost AUD $5.3 Billion By Robert Livingstone | Published Feb 22, 2019 8:39 AM https://gamesbids.com/eng/summer-olympic-bids/future-summer-bids/feasibility-study-supports-a-brisbane-2032-olympic-bid-that-could-cost-aud-5-3-billion/ A 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid by Australia’s South-east Queensland and led by Brisbane would be an important catalyst to much-needed transportation improvements in the region, and could leverage existing facilities to cut other costs – this according to a commissioned feasibility report released Thursday by French company Lagadere. The 265-page report outlines a plan to upgrade as many as 60 percent existing venues, add temporary seating where possible and build at least one new stadium. But the plan is contingent on the separate delivery of major transport projects that are needed to protect the state from future gridlock. The report suggests that coupled with an Olympics, those projects can benefit from an increased financial return. The operating cost for the Games is estimated at AUD $5.3 billion (USD $3.77 billion) which could be partially funded by a $1.7 billion cash and in-kind contribution from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and $2.7 billion in domestic revenue leaving a tax-funded deficit of about $900 million. The Commonwealth Games hosted in Gold Coast last year had a net cost of $1.2 billion, but that bottom line was not supported by a contribution from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). The IOC contributes funds to the organization of an Olympic Games based on a share of broadcast revenue, much of which is already locked in for 2032. On Friday Queensland’s Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk underlined the need for strong support from all level of government before moving forward. She said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald “first and foremost, there would have to be agreement on all levels of government. “Secondly we would have to see a very strong contribution from the federal government, the likes of which we saw for the Sydney Olympics, and we have not had any of those conversations with the federal government.” “And thirdly I don’t think Queenslanders want an Olympics just concentrated in the south-east. “We’re a very big state and it would have to be inclusive of Queensland.” The Premier promised to examine the newly-released report in further detail. Brisbane’s lord mayor Graham Quirk said a bid was first considered based on the IOC’s recent efforts to reduce the costs under the organization’s Olympic Agenda 2020 reform package. “We were keen to see whether SEQ could deliver a cost-effective plan to host the Olympic Games by reusing the region’s existing facilities, and in turn, creating a catalyst for infrastructure delivery and job creation,” Quirk said. “This study has shown that SEQ could mount a successful bid without the need to build venues just for an Olympic Games. “In doing so, we would be able to keep costs to a minimum while maximizing the potential benefits and legacies for the region.” The report outlines plans for Brisbane to host 21 of the venues with the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast each providing five and Ipswich and Toowoomba two. Three other venues would be leveraged elsewhere in the region. Brisbane would be home for the main Olympic Village with athletes also housed in additional facilities in the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast https://gamesbids.com/eng/summer-olympic-bids/future-summer-bids/feasibility-study-supports-a-brisbane-2032-olympic-bid-that-could-cost-aud-5-3-billion/

Melbourne is not bidding this time, nor is Sydney. Both are capable to host but you’ve got to be in it to win it and neither currently look to be interested. Brisbane’s odds of bidding look to be solid now.

In Australia, none of those bids ever went to a popular vote (despite the frequency of popular votes /referenda in the northern hemisphere).

Australian bidding for huge sporting events including Melbourne 1992 Olympic bid, Brisbane 1996 Olympic bid, Sydney 2000 Olympics, 2006 Melbourne CW Games, 2010 Football World Cup bid and 2018 CW Games Gold Coast. I know popular votes thave sunk several Olympic bids in the northern hemisphere on recent years. But in Australia, of these bids above ever went to a popular vote. That’s the recent history in sportsmad Australia. Aussies love sport and being on the world stage with big sporting events, including this potential Brisbane 2032 bid. There’s no indication (yet) that this bid will buck this history and go to a popular vote if a bid is now developed. SE QLD: Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast combined have thousands of hotel rooms and more will be built if the bid proceeds. Lets see what a formal bid comes up with. You can be assured it won’t be any half-ass bid but a comprehensive, thoroughly prepared and well financed bid.

https://www.9news.com.au/2019/02/21/18/04/queensland-news-brisbane-olympics-bid-one-step-closer ( Source: 9News.com.au ) 21 February 2019, “Green Light Given To Brisbane Olympic Bid” A bid by Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic Games has taken a big step towards becoming a reality, after a crucial transport and feasibility study gave the project the green light. The long awaited report, carried out by French company Lagadere and seen by 9 News, says major infrastructure upgrades would be needed for a successful bid, in particular transport and stadiums. While many see the Olympics as too expensive to host, the study argues upgrades are already needed in the South East, and an Olympics would provide an extra financial return on the projects. In particular, the report highlights travel times throughout the South East, expressing concern at the length of the commute from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast. It also identifies the M1 between Brisbane and the Gold Coast as being of particular concern. The Council of Mayors has already recognised that another major stadium would need to be built in addition to Suncorp Stadium. Brisbane does have time to invest in the projects though, with the International Olympic Committee won't decide on the host until 2025. The study, which was commissioned in 2016 by the Council of Mayors, also says South East Queensland's stadiums are adequate, but only if they receive upgrades.”

What has changed since is the awarding of the 2024 and 2028 Ganes, both to 2 northern hemisphere cities and today’s announcement today by AOC. There is still plenty of time to get a competitive bid together, 7 years, before the 2032 Games are awarded.

24 October 2018: Mr Matt Carroll, CEO Australian Olympic Committee, today addressed the National Press Club in Canberra. Mr Carroll spoke and then fielded questions. He said that there was an opportunity for a 2032 Summer Olympic Games bid from Australia and hosted by Brisbane / South Eastern Queensland. He went on to say that by 2032 the Summer Games will have been in the following hemispheres/continents: Europe / Northern Hemisphere - 2012 London South America / Southern Hemisphere - 2016 Rio Asia / Northern Hemisphere - 2020 Tokyo Europe / Northern Hemisphere - Paris 2024 North America / Northen Hemisphere - 2028 LA Australia / Southern Hemisphere - 2032 Brisbane ? He went on to say that the weather in Brisbane/SE Queensland during July (northern hemisphere summer) is more suited to hosting an Olympic Games at that time than other more southern Australian cities.