Gold Coast 2018

[jim jones]

The Self Declared Front runner and bitter Rival of Auckland.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/0...coast-news.html

A SNEAKY move by New Zealand authorities to hijack the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid from the Gold Coast has been exposed.

Auckland Mayor John Banks has been caught out claiming that Queensland officials had agreed to scrap the Gold Coast bid.

Mr Banks, who heads a newly-merged super council, yesterday refused to comment to The Bulletin.

But he previously told the New Zealand Herald that officials in Brisbane had offered to step aside in favour of their 'sister city'.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas last night came out swinging against Mr Banks and other Kiwi supporters.

Mr Lucas said Premier Anna Bligh would lead a trade mission to India early next month to meet officials from the Commonwealth Games Federation.

"I couldn't think of a better place in the entire Commonwealth that has the advantage of having top facilities, a combined Gold Coast/Brisbane population almost the same size as New Zealand itself and is a tourism mecca," said Mr Lucas.

"Of course Auckland wants us to withdraw -- the Gold Coast is the front-runner. I've got news for them -- it's a race we intend to win.

"Gold Coast, with a population equal to Tasmania, is the only non-capital city in Australia that has the capacity to host this event."

Mr Lucas said it was important to remember that Commonwealth Games bids do not begin and end in capital cities.

Your Say

"we have your jobs, we have your women, we have your property, we have your businesses, now we want your Games"

Palmy Paul

"Judging by the number of Kiwis on the Gold Coast I think there would be broad support in New Zealand for the Gold Coast Games bid as well," he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke said he had been contacted by New Zealand media about reports the city was pulling out.

"They keep calling us Brisbane but they're way off the mark," said Cr Clarke.

"We've got a better climate and better credentials.

"Somebody wrote to me to say thanks us for pulling out but the Gold Coast will not be stepping aside."

Cr Clarke said there was very little chance that the Australian FIFA World Cup bid for 2018 would be successful and he has called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to commit funding to the Gold Coast games bid.

The Auckland move was dismissed by the chairman of the Gold Coast bid for the games, Bob Gordon.

"They've don't have the accommodation," he said.

"What they're going to have to do is lease cruise ships from Europe to go down there.

"Their harbour is a poor imitation of Sydney harbour."

Auckland City Council has agreed to bankroll a $325,000 feasibility study to kick-start a bid to win the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Cashed-up Nigeria, which has put up capital Abuja as its bid city, is the only other competitor after losing its bid to Glasgow for the 2014 games.

Well I have to say read the specs on the Commonwealth Games . A 17000 seat stadium being upgraded to a 25000 seater is still 10000 to 15000 short of the minimum . Then there is the fact that Gold Coast has much of its purposed sports Venues Spread all over the city. Considering Glasgows Problems with keeping their promises for the 2014 Games it will certainly be in stark contrast if voting Delegates for 2018 show up to Abuja for their second visit in 4 years and See the Nigerian Keeping their word for the largest part of the proposed 2014 Capital Works Schedule Being Mass Transit.

While White Candidate take their superiority as a given they certainly don't seem to deliver with excuses excuses excuses .

Jim jones

[oakydoky]

The Self Declared Front runner and bitter Rival of Auckland.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/0...coast-news.html

A SNEAKY move by New Zealand authorities to hijack the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid from the Gold Coast has been exposed.

Auckland Mayor John Banks has been caught out claiming that Queensland officials had agreed to scrap the Gold Coast bid.

Mr Banks, who heads a newly-merged super council, yesterday refused to comment to The Bulletin.

But he previously told the New Zealand Herald that officials in Brisbane had offered to step aside in favour of their 'sister city'.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas last night came out swinging against Mr Banks and other Kiwi supporters.

Mr Lucas said Premier Anna Bligh would lead a trade mission to India early next month to meet officials from the Commonwealth Games Federation.

"I couldn't think of a better place in the entire Commonwealth that has the advantage of having top facilities, a combined Gold Coast/Brisbane population almost the same size as New Zealand itself and is a tourism mecca," said Mr Lucas.

"Of course Auckland wants us to withdraw -- the Gold Coast is the front-runner. I've got news for them -- it's a race we intend to win.

"Gold Coast, with a population equal to Tasmania, is the only non-capital city in Australia that has the capacity to host this event."

Mr Lucas said it was important to remember that Commonwealth Games bids do not begin and end in capital cities.

Your Say

"we have your jobs, we have your women, we have your property, we have your businesses, now we want your Games"

Palmy Paul

"Judging by the number of Kiwis on the Gold Coast I think there would be broad support in New Zealand for the Gold Coast Games bid as well," he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke said he had been contacted by New Zealand media about reports the city was pulling out.

"They keep calling us Brisbane but they're way off the mark," said Cr Clarke.

"We've got a better climate and better credentials.

"Somebody wrote to me to say thanks us for pulling out but the Gold Coast will not be stepping aside."

Cr Clarke said there was very little chance that the Australian FIFA World Cup bid for 2018 would be successful and he has called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to commit funding to the Gold Coast games bid.

The Auckland move was dismissed by the chairman of the Gold Coast bid for the games, Bob Gordon.

"They've don't have the accommodation," he said.

"What they're going to have to do is lease cruise ships from Europe to go down there.

"Their harbour is a poor imitation of Sydney harbour."

Auckland City Council has agreed to bankroll a $325,000 feasibility study to kick-start a bid to win the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Cashed-up Nigeria, which has put up capital Abuja as its bid city, is the only other competitor after losing its bid to Glasgow for the 2014 games.

Well I have to say read the specs on the Commonwealth Games . A 17000 seat stadium being upgraded to a 25000 seater is still 10000 to 15000 short of the minimum . Then there is the fact that Gold Coast has much of its purposed sports Venues Spread all over the city. Considering Glasgows Problems with keeping their promises for the 2014 Games it will certainly be in stark contrast if voting Delegates for 2018 show up to Abuja for their second visit in 4 years and See the Nigerian Keeping their word for the largest part of the proposed 2014 Capital Works Schedule Being Mass Transit.

While White Candidate take their superiority as a given they certainly don't seem to deliver with excuses excuses excuses .

Jim jones

Why are you racially stereotyping white people - you are a racist who continually mocks white people by wrongfully implying they are racist. IGNORANT!!!!!

The article has nothing to do with race but rather speculations over whether Auckland will bid against the gold coast for the 2018 CWG. Further, you manage to put in your propaganda about Abuja and continue to try and paint a picture of Abuja being some kind of 'paradise'. We've all read the news mate - it isn't! Abuja is not related to Auckland or the Gold Coast.

[Brisbane2024]

Well this is interesting, and whoever concocted this Gold Coast stepping aside nonsense sure caught the NZ media with their pants down. (Not least of all because Auckland is actually Brisbane's sister city, not GC's. Two COMPLETELY separate cities, but anyway…).

Cr Clarke says GC has a better climate than Brisbane? It certainly is a markedly different climate, being that much closer to the ocean, but I'm not sure gail force winds and flash floods are much of a selling point.

I would dearly love to see GC get the games in 2018. I probably won't still be hanging around in Brisbane by the time 2018 rolls around, but you never know!

[micheal_warren]

Interesting article thanks for posting. I remember being a little surprised when New Zealand Herald printed the story that the Gold Coast would stand aside.

[stevie]

It's a bit lofty for them to self lable themselves the front runners when the bid races hasn't even formally started. Don't under underestimate Auckland's potential, it's sporting/transport infastructure and international profile is miles ahead of the Gold Coast's, not to mention the fact that an Australian city just hosted the games 3 years ago. Taking jabs at Auckland's harbour and climate (relevance?) seems a tad unprofessional on their part.

[micheal_warren]

It's a bit lofty for them to self lable themselves the front runners when the bid races hasn't even formally started. Don't under underestimate Auckland's potential, it's sporting/transport infastructure and international profile is miles ahead of the Gold Coast's, not to mention the fact that an Australian city just hosted the games 3 years ago. Taking jabs at Auckland's harbour and climate (relevance?) seems a tad unprofessional on their part.

Good points

[Sir Rols]

Good points

Good to see the Trans-Tasman rivalry!

C'mon Auckland, give us a good contest!

Edited September 25, 2009 by Sir Roltel

[oakydoky]

I'd personally be delighted if either bid and won.

Of course, the mighty Abuja may prove too much for either of the bids!

[micheal_warren]

Good to see the Trans-Tasman rivalry!

C'mon Auckland, give us a good contest!

It will be a good contest if Auckland can get everything in order. I think if we did we would be the front runner!

[Sir Rols]

It will be a good contest if Auckland can get everything in order. I think if we did we would be the front runner!

Definitely.

[Brisbane2024]

Taking jabs at Auckland's harbour and climate (relevance?) seems a tad unprofessional on their part.

Indeed it does. Doubly so when you take into account that Bob Gordon, as far as I can see, is basically chairman of the pie-in-the-sky cheer squad committee which has sweet FA to do with the feasibility study being run by the State Government.

[jim jones]

Another former commonwealth games host city bidding to Co host the games . Looks like the Co Hosting between Glasgow and Edinburgh for 2014 except it is Four Events in Brisbane .

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/uploads2/Commo...es-map-2018.pdf

Netballs , Gymnastics , Squash and Shooting .

Gee does this mean like Glasgow 2014 Gold Coast will promise tranportation projects for the 2018 games and then take back those promises if they are awarded the games ?

Meanwhile in the African City I love they continue with the 2014 promises for urban transportation seeing as the government of Nigeria has again relasesed 2 billion dollars for national development thanks to an access oil revenues account that is over 10 billion and growing .

Jim Jones

[Sir Rols]

Anna Bligh in crucial 2018 Commonwealth Games mission

Geoff Chambers | October 7th, 2009

IF you thought Premier Anna Bligh was kidding about the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid, think again.

The Bulletin can today exclusively reveal Ms Bligh's secret strategy to win the 2018 games for the city.

Ms Bligh has armed herself with a mud-map, which plots exactly where the world's best athletes will compete across the Gold Coast.

The map shows that some events would be held in Brisbane, Beenleigh and as far north as Cairns and Townsville.

Ms Bligh flies out to Delhi tomorrow to begin her Commonwealth Games crusade.

"These preliminary plans demonstrate why the Gold Coast is up to the task," she said.

"Ahead of my trip to Delhi to meet with Games officials we have undertaken an investigation to determine if the Gold Coast has the capacity to bid for the Commonwealth Games.

"The investigation has found the Gold Coast is well placed to launch a successful bid, and we now have an outline of what we'd need to do to make the Coast ready to stage such a massive event."

The outline provides an insight into future development of sporting infrastructure on the Gold Coast.

The State Government would upgrade the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre at Southport, construct a new velodrome to replace the ageing Nerang facility and expand the new $126 million Carrara stadium for track and field events.

Ms Bligh said if the Coast won, the State Government would go ahead with the infrastructure projects.

A major cornerstone of the bid would focus on construction of accommodation facilities at Gold Coast Parklands to house the athletes' village.

A total of 4500 athletes and 1500 officials would need to be accommodated within the athlete's village precinct.

The Warner Brothers sound stages at Oxenford would be converted into an international broadcast and press centre.

The Gold Coast Convention Centre, Carrara Indoor Sports complex, Skilled Park, Broadbeach Bowls Club and Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre would be upgraded to host a range of events.

The Queensland Tennis Centre and the Convention Centre in Brisbane would also be required for the Games.

"This would be a huge boost to infrastructure on the Gold Coast," she said.

"After the Games, the accommodation built at Parklands for the athletes' village would provide new high-density housing and office space for the region, close to Griffith University and the new Gold Coast University Hospital."

Edited October 7, 2009 by Sir Roltel

[Sir Rols]

Bligh gears up for Games bid meeting in India

By Melinda Howells

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh will travel to India tomorrow to see whether there is international support to host the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

She will discuss the possible bid with games officials in India tomorrow as she begins a trade trip, with Delhi her first stop.

Ms Bligh says hosting the Games on the Gold Coast in 2018 could cost almost $1 billion.

She told Parliament the Gold Coast is an ideal city to host the 2018 event, but new and upgraded facilities would be needed.

"Making a bid to host the games is a significant decision for Government and not one that we will take lightly," she said.

"Initial estimates suggest that it could cost around $970 million over the next decade to prepare for and stage the event, including the cost of building the new infrastructure."

Ms Bligh says the State Government has developed preliminary plans on how the Gold Coast could host the Games, including plans for a new velodrome and athlete's village.

She State Parliament the final decision on whether to bid will be made early next year, but the event would bring huge economic benefits.

"It's estimated that more than 30,000 jobs across a range of industries would be generated if the games go ahead here in Queensland," she said.

"Jobs in construction, manufacturing, recreation, cultural and business services and of course, the huge boost the games would deliver to the tourism industry - not just on the [Gold] Coast - but throughout the state."

The chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, Perry Crosswhite, says Queensland may have to compete against bids from Nigeria, New Zealand, South Africa and the Caribbean for the 2018 Games.

...

ABC News

[micheal_warren]

Interesting... Gold Coast look serious. Auckland will have to get their act together soon if they are any chance of winning

[jim jones]

Interesting... Gold Coast look serious. Auckland will have to get their act together soon if they are any chance of winning

How Serious can it be when Two Venues for Basketball are in Townsville and Cairns in Northern Queensland ? would you believe 903 miles away from the Athletes village or 23 hours by road ? a two hour flight other wise. Townsville is a little over 700 miles from Gold Coast. They should title it the Queensland 2018 bid or Lets try to reward Ron Clarke a former White Athlete from the 1960's Bid. This distance for Basketball would be like Melbourne 2006 staging basketball in Brisbane.

Then who ever is behind this does not realise that the maximum number of events for a commonwealth games is 17 and they propose 18 . If you can't get the number of events straight then do you actually know what are the base requirements for the different sports codes are ?

Basketball 903 miles away ? gosh the furthest sport usually is shooting and in this case it looks like it is probably the venue used for 1982 in Brisbane .

Again Australia has never won an international bid to stage the commonwealth games and my source in sport Admin has already said co opting with Brisbane will not go down at all well especially for Gymnastics , Netballs, Shooting and Squash.

Auckland I think even with North Harbor Stadium would have a more compact Games . Of course the most compact is Abuja 2018 . The vast majority of venues in a 1.75 kms radius between the National Stadium complex and the International conference centre cluster. Certianly not in the double digits for Travel time unlike gold Coast/ Brisbane / Townsville/ Cairns . Must be the first bid that is on the scale of a landmark that can be seen from space . The Great Barrier Reef

Jim jones

[Sir Rols]

BREAKING NEWS: New Gold Coast Stadium images unveiled

8 October 2009 | by Gemma Battenbough

Queensland premier Anna Bligh’s bid for the Commonwealth Games is in full swing with the first images of the Gold Coast Stadium unveiled today along with preliminary plans for the infrastructure needed to host the major event.

Bligh travels to Delhi this week to meet with officials and argue the Gold Coast’s sporting credentials.

Designed by Populous, the Gold Coast Stadium features an undulating roof and pinstriped façade. The $126 million project will have the capacity for 25,000 sports fans and will become the new home of the Gold Coast AFL team. Work could begin as early as next week.

Sports specialist architects Populous teamed with Watpac for the project. Both companies also worked on Skilled Park.

The stadium has been designed with the players and fans in mind, senior principal at Populous, Alastair Richardson said. “We’ve aimed for the best viewing standards for all patrons to maximize the fan experience.”

The stadium design was “fantastic” and its construction is great news, both for Gold Coast Aussie Rules and the economy, Bligh said.

AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou said he couldn’t wait for the development to take shape.

“The new stadium is a critical part of the long-term growth of the game in the region and will provide local sports fans with a first-class experience of AFL when it’s completed,” he said.

The Gold Coast Stadium will be capable of hosting cricket, entertainment and cultural events. It will include a large HD video board, merchandising outlets and catering facilities, as well as 2,000 corporate seats and amenities.

Queensland’s preliminary bid for the Commonwealth Games includes plans for a new velodrome, an upgrade to the aquatics centre, further works on the Gold Coast Stadium to accommodate track and field events and the temporary conversion of other venues. The Warner Brothers sound studio would be converted into a broadcast and media centre, along with badminton courts. Preparation and infrastructure for the games could cost $970 million.

[thatsnotmypuppy]

Well the stadium is coming either way due to the new AFL team. Jim - I do agree slightly with your point on how far Townsville/Cairns are - but how is that ahy different to how the Olympics farms out the soccer matches? Brisbane and Adelaide were quite far from Sydney - it didn't make much of a difference.

Both Townsville and Cairns have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the visitors and the teams - and the teams will have places in the village for the ceremonies and after they compete - like at Melbourne 2006 (admittedly the basketball venues were much closer). Not many people from Melbourne travelled to the satellite basketball venues - they were put there to give the "country" people a taste of the Games and high level international competition. I like the idea of spreading some sports around - the original Sydney 2000 plan had volleyball prelim matches in Brisbane and Melbourne as well as Sydney. Atlanta also floated the idea of sharing volleyball or hockey with Birmingham, Mobile, New Orleans and Orlando at one point.

[micheal_warren]

How Serious can it be when Two Venues for Basketball are in Townsville and Cairns in Northern Queensland ? would you believe 903 miles away from the Athletes village or 23 hours by road ? a two hour flight other wise. Townsville is a little over 700 miles from Gold Coast. They should title it the Queensland 2018 bid or Lets try to reward Ron Clarke a former White Athlete from the 1960's Bid. This distance for Basketball would be like Melbourne 2006 staging basketball in Brisbane.

Then who ever is behind this does not realise that the maximum number of events for a commonwealth games is 17 and they propose 18 . If you can't get the number of events straight then do you actually know what are the base requirements for the different sports codes are ?

Basketball 903 miles away ? gosh the furthest sport usually is shooting and in this case it looks like it is probably the venue used for 1982 in Brisbane .

Again Australia has never won an international bid to stage the commonwealth games and my source in sport Admin has already said co opting with Brisbane will not go down at all well especially for Gymnastics , Netballs, Shooting and Squash.

Auckland I think even with North Harbor Stadium would have a more compact Games . Of course the most compact is Abuja 2018 . The vast majority of venues in a 1.75 kms radius between the National Stadium complex and the International conference centre cluster. Certianly not in the double digits for Travel time unlike gold Coast/ Brisbane / Townsville/ Cairns . Must be the first bid that is on the scale of a landmark that can be seen from space . The Great Barrier Reef

Jim jones

Agreed but they seem to be further down the track than a potential Auckland bid is!

[NOC]

Disagree

Auckland is ALREADY in Delhi wooing the CGAs while Gold Coast is still waiting on both Australian Commonwealth Games approval, Federal Government money and they are not in Delhi doing the hard work.

Nigeria is also currently missing in action.

[stevie]

Disagree

Auckland is ALREADY in Delhi wooing the CGAs while Gold Coast is still waiting on both Australian Commonwealth Games approval, Federal Government money and they are not in Delhi doing the hard work.

Nigeria is also currently missing in action.

Oh serious? Wow thats nice to hear.

[micheal_warren]

Disagree

Auckland is ALREADY in Delhi wooing the CGAs while Gold Coast is still waiting on both Australian Commonwealth Games approval, Federal Government money and they are not in Delhi doing the hard work.

Nigeria is also currently missing in action.

Wow are we already in Delhi? Where did you get that information from? That is really encouraging.

[thatsnotmypuppy]

Actually Anna Bligh (QLD premier) is over in India now.

[NOC]

Yes and when she presented last night it was very interesting!

Everyone had to wait and the doors opened and ALL THESE SUITS came marching in in single file, briefcase in tow, as Anna pounded her way to the podium.

She read a speach and part of it included "While we make up our mind of the coming months for consideration to make a formal bid and seek your feedback", followed by a 2 minute video.

Auckland presented next, a team of great people who had been mingling for days on the venue tours, letting everone know about their bid. Their 5 minute presentation was informative about the team behind an official bid (where Australia is not an official bid yet) and a 2 minute video.

Abuja got up and said "you already know eveything about us, and congratulations Glasgow on winning 2014, now its time to go to Abuja" with no video or powerpoint and oit lasted 30 seconds.

All of Oceania will vote New Zealand. The Carribean will vote New Zealand. Game Over.

[Brisbane2024]

I think far too much is being made of the Gold Coast / Brisbane, 'co-host' issue.

Putting aside the notion of holding some team sports events in other parts of the state (which personally I think is a fine idea? And comparable, as Puppy said, to soccer in the Olympic Games), this is no more a co-host scenario than any other in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

The Gold Coast and Brisbane are regions within the single greater metropolitan area known statistically as '(Greater) Brisbane', and they are sufficiently close that both will be utilised in what is still a perfectly palatable plan… The majority of the venues are within 20-30 minutes of the village with three or four outliers within an hour.

Calling this a co-host scenario is like calling Melbourne a co-host scenario because it actually utilised the Local Councils of Moonee Valley, Port Phillip, Maribyrnong etc. Or every games in the history of the thing co-host scenarios for the same reason.

(And in reality, local council jurisdictions in Queensland are as big as you will find, and if there is a single Local Government Area anywhere capable of holding a Commonwealth Games entirely within the confines of its own perimeter then it would surely be Brisbane. Failing that… the Gold Coast.)