AustralianFan

Global push to strip Beijing of Winter Olympics Credit: Sydney Morning Herald By Eryk Bagshaw September 22, 2020 — 5.01am The founder of a global coalition of MPs is pushing for the International Olympic Committee to reconsider Beijing's hosting of the 2022 Winter Games as politicians around the world voice increasing concerns over China's human rights record. The move paves the way for a worldwide alliance between human rights groups and conservative and progressive politicians to force a boycott of the Games. The development also could further threaten the finances of the I

I agree it would have been a nice to have but then who would pay for manual cauldron anniversary lightings and associated mantenance and safety considerations? Unfortunately, it just has to remain a symbolic press-button ignition unless a philanthropic corporate fan or sponsor is willing to pay for such an event, especially during a pandemic.

At Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum when the cauldron has been relit over the years, has anyone actually stood under the archway and directly ignited the pathway to the cauldron? Of course not.

Coates Defends Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic Bid Budget Amid Scathing Independent Report Credit: Gamesbids Posted on Sep 16, 2020 12:52 PM by Robert Livingstone in Featured, Future Summer Bids Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) president John Coates reaffirmed Tuesday that a Brisbane-based bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games would remain cost-neutral and without major risks. Coates, who is also Vice President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was forced to defend the bid’s budget on the heels of a scathing report from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School that claims

Two Brisbane ferry terminals closer to reality after contract awarded Credit: Brisbane Times By Lucy Stone September 13, 2020 — 9.37pm Brisbane City Council has awarded a $25 million contract to a single supplier to build a ferry terminal at Howard Smith Wharves and upgrade the South Bank ferry terminal. The contract came before council on Tuesday with an amendment to give priority to local fabrication when evaluating the bids as part of council's efforts to support local business during the COVID-19 pandemic. The South Bank ferry terminal upgrade will combine all

Is Brisbane 2032 calling for Swimming Australia boss John Bertrand? Credit: Sydney Morning Herald By Phil Lutton September 11, 2020 — 5.17pm Outgoing Swimming Australia president John Bertrand wants his next move to be one of national significance, opening up the possibility of the America's Cup hero playing a part in Queensland's efforts to host the Olympic Games in 2032. Bertrand will step aside from his role after seven years at the helm of SA, helping oversee its resurgence from the drama of London 2012 to a strong position ahead of next year's rescheduled Games in T

New fast rail push to get SEQ's post-COVID recovery on track Credit: Brisbane Times By Tony Moore September 12, 2020 — 12.00am The Wagner Corporation built an airport for Toowoomba in 18 months when it realised it was taking too long for its customers' goods to get to Brisbane. Toowoomba's Wellcamp Airport was the first Australian airport built on a greenfield site since Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, 47 years earlier. Now Denis Wagner wants to be part of Queensland’s push towards fast rail, where trains travelling 160km/h link cities and decentralise sout

Mayors propose ambitious Fast Rail legacy project for south-east Credit: Brisbane Times By Tony Moore September 5, 2020 — 10.00pm South-east Queensland's mayors are hoping to use the proposed Fast Rail network as a legacy project that will boost the state's post-COVID recovery and link regional areas to Brisbane. The first business case of a Fast Rail line between Maroochydore and Brisbane is now being evaluated by Queensland's Transport Department, and a second business case – for a line between Brisbane and the Gold Coast – will be completed by late 2022.

Queensland works on two Fast Rail cases Credit: Brisbane Times by Tony Moore September 2, 2020 — 8.03pm The Queensland government is working on two separate business cases for futuristic 160km/h Fast Rail links in the state's south-east. The first business case is a proposed link between Maroochydore and Nambour on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. The second proposes a link between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Under the Fast Rail concept, conventional trains with modifications would traverse railway tracks at speeds up to 160km/h, similar to Queens

Gabba AFL grand final is a milestone moment for Queensland and for Gillon McLachlan, who puts heart over head Credit: ABC News Australia By Dean Bilton 2 September 2020, 2:26pm Welcome to sunny Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef, Wally Lewis and the 2020 AFL grand final. A protracted process has reached its inevitable end, with the AFL officially awarding its coveted decider to Brisbane and the Gabba, taking the grand final out of Melbourne for the first time in VFL/AFL history. This season of turmoil, reflecting and punctuating a year

Yes I remember that incident. I feel sorry for the Brazilian runner Vanderlei de Lima who had a 30 second lead with about 6 kms or so to go in the race when this serial pest, a defrocked Irish priest, attacked him. Vanderlei ended up finishing with the bronze and later said he could not regain his running rythmn to maintain his lead. Actually today, concidentally 26 August, is 16 years to the day since this incident on 26 August 2004. The guy who attacked him was crazy long before the Olympics. The year before in 2003, the serial pest had stood in the middle of the British F1 Grand P

Sydney 2000 First Dress Rehearsal - Heroes fabric rips in half Not sure if this has been mentioned already, but at the First Sydney Opening Ceremony Dress Rehearsal on Sat 9 September 2000, the huge white fabric on to which were shone athlete projections during ‘Heroes Live Forever’ (Vanessa Amoroso) ripped completely in half when it got caught on something as it was passed over the first grandstand balcony. The leading separated piece continued on its way. Athens 2004 OC Dress Rehearsal - crazy woman attacks DJ Tiesto Also at the Athens 2004 Opening Ceremony Dress Rehe

The opening segment of the Sydney Closing Ceremony was the guy in the golf cart riding all over the place and “causing apparent mahem”, Benny Hil style with performers chasing him everywhere. The crash he had into the fake stage was a planned comedic stunt. The stadium’s sound system was not damaged at all. The whole thing was planned. The golf cart clown was the segment.

Queensland brings in heavies for grand final pitch Credit: Brisbane Times By Caroline Wilson August 19, 2020 — 7.23pm The Queensland government has co-opted senior leaders from Gold Coast and the Brisbane Lions to prepare its bid to host the grand final, the first time it would be played outside Victoria in the game's history. The government's grand final working party, established by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and chaired by Suns president Tony Cochrane, has also drafted Lions chairman Andrew Wellington, with the Suns' and Lions' chief executives Mark Evans and Greg Swa

Olympic Games venue grand plan on track for 2032 bid Credit: The Australian By Wayne Smith, Senior Sport Writer, June 23, 2020 Although southeast Queensland may have officially suspended its 2032 Olympic bid for the duration of the fight against COVID-19, the Australian Olympic Committee has been focusing on venues in the Brisbane region and believes 85 per cent are already in place. AOC president John Coates, speaking at the launch of the Parliamentary Friends of the Olympic Movement on Tuesday, said that during the temporary suspension of lobbying for