Olympics Games for SEQ 2032

[timh]

Or alternatively (crazy idea) - just build the infrastructure anyway and DON'T hold the Olympics here.

As fantastic as that would be (however unlikely), the way I see it is that an Olympics being held here kind of forces the hand of the Federal government to chip in some more money and basically FORCE the infrastructure to be built, because there's no way in hell we could hold an Olympics here without the infrastructure they've planned in the Mass Movement Study. Frankly I think for it to be a viable option, they'd need to build all the stuff they said they'd finish by 2041, by 2031 instead, with some additions.

The other thing about the Olympics that needs to be addressed is the lack of hotel rooms. I saw some articles talking about using "floating hotels", basically utilising cruise ships as hotels, making use of the new infrastructure at the new International Cruise Terminal. For that to happen, you would need a decent public transport link to Luggage Point (and Hamilton if they are going to use that too), so those extensions to the Doomben line (or Airport line) that have come up before would need to happen as well (in my opinion), but there's absolutely zero talk of both of those...

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Destination Gold Coast CEO backs Queensland Olympics bid

THE Gold Coast tourism boss says a southeast Queensland bid for the 2032 Olympic Games seems a "natural fit".

Asked for their latest view on a bid being probed by the South East Queensland Council of Mayors, Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan and CEO Annaliese Battista said in a statement they believed the Gold Coast was a world-class city capable of hosting world-class events, such as an Olympic Games.

Ms Battista: "We've already shown the world the Gold Coast is capable and has the capacity to host mega-events.

"The southeast corner of Queensland is rapidly expanding and by 2032 the population will eclipse Sydney and of Melbourne so a statewide bid for an event the size of the Olympics would seem a natural fit."

Ms Battista's enthusiasm echoed backing for a bid by Tourism Australia managing director John O'Sullivan who told the Bulletin during last April's Commonwealth Games it was the "next logical step".

Ms Battista said the Commonwealth Games provided the Gold Coast with a blueprint for growth, investment and tourism plus key learnings for big event delivery.

"The bid would need to ensure prolonged and strong economic outcomes for the tourism sector, including major investment in transport, infrastructure and attractions, which are greatly needed on the Gold Coast," she said.

Exposure from hosting an Olympics would be game-changing for tourism, she said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said enthusiasm from southeast Queensland mayors was great but he would not commit ratepayer funds to a bid.

Cr Tate said after the Commonwealth Games ratepayers wanted council "back to basics" focusing on roads and community facilities: "(But) we will offer venues up for training or Olympic competition."

A State Government spokesman said it would need strong financial backing from all three levels of government.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Olympics supremo Thomas Bach urges Queensland to seize Games opportunity

THE most powerful figure in the Olympic movement has urged southeast Queensland leaders to seize a unique opportunity to promote the region as a potential Games host.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach will meet Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and new Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to discuss a possible bid for the 2032 Games when he attends the SportAccord conference on the Gold Coast early next month.

He will join the leaders of more than 100 international sporting federations and says it is the perfect chance to build on the success of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and start selling the region's Olympic credentials to some of the most influential players in world sport.

"It is because you can prepare the ground. You can benefit from the presence of the people. You know the saying 'It's better to see once than to hear 1000 times'. To see the region, to feel the enthusiasm of the people is something extremely valuable," Mr Bach said in a rare interview.

"You can also benefit from the excellent reputation the Australian Olympic Committee has with John Coates in the IOC and the international federation so it is a great opportunity. I can only say seize it!"

An 18-month feasibility study, commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors, in February found a "compelling" case that the region could mount a bid to bring the 2032 event here at a lower cost to tax and ratepayers than last year's Commonwealth Games.

The State Government has yet to decide if it will support a formal bid.

Mr Bach said it was important that all parties were united before a formal candidature was announced but welcomed the strong interest.

"It's at a very early stage but we're very much positively surprised that already now, 13 years before the Games in '32, we are seeing interest and discussions."

And Mr Bach said southeast Queensland and Australia were in a "special'' position with some clear advantages and an "excellent'' impression among the international sports community.

"The Commonwealth Games was considered to be a great success by everybody. I've met many people after the Commonwealth Games and most of them unsolicited were praising the organisation and – even more – the atmosphere.

"You know many people are enthusiastic up to today about the 2000 Sydney Games.

"The love of sport of the Australians, their enthusiasm, their hospitality. All this plays a great role in these discussions even if it is early days.

"It is very positive because Australia, the Australians are very popular people and we all like their openness, their informality, their hospitality and, most of all, their love for sport.

"This, combined with their great organisational skills, makes a very positive feeling around the Aussies in the international sports movement."

By 2032, it would be more than 30 years since an Olympics was held in Oceania.

"So I think it's another good reason to think about it," Mr Bach said.

It is unlikely that a preliminary economic benefit analysis will be ready in time for Mr Bach's meeting with the Premier and Lord Mayor, but he said the feasibility report was positive.

That study forecast a $900 million net loss but Mr Bach is adamant that wherever the 2032 event is staged, it will at least break even, if not make money.

The feasibility report estimated IOC revenue at $1.7 billion, but Mr Bach says it is likely to be between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion.

And new rules under the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms place a strict emphasis on using existing facilities or those where a long-term need beyond the Games has already been established to slash the construction bills which plagued past events.

"If neither of the three (options) is working, then we are ready to look into a solution outside the host city or region to accommodate these sports."

About 90 per cent of venues for the Paris (2024) and Los Angeles (2028) Games already existed and the bids for the 2026 Winter Olympics were 75 per cent lower than the 2022 event which was planned under the old rules.

Mr Bach said the approach proposed by the SEQ Council of Mayors to use an Olympic bid to accelerate billions of dollars of public transport, roads and community facilities infrastructure need to support the fast-growing population also "fits perfectly'' with the IOC's new ethos.

"We've turned the page. Before, the host city had to adapt to the Games. What we are saying now is that the Games have to adapt to the city and the region and add to it and its long-term development plan. We have to contribute to it.

"It fits perfectly because the Games would not be the reason why transport and other infrastructure was developed but they would serve as a catalyst so the population could enjoy the advantages way earlier than without the Games."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1116980551007608835

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 2032 Olympics: IOC boss urges Queenslanders to back bid

OLYMPICS chief Thomas Bach has encouraged Queenslanders to "say yes'' to bringing the world here by hosting the biggest event on the planet.

The International Olympic Committee president, who comes to the state tomorrow, has talked up the strength of a bid for the 2032 Games.

Mr Bach said the model proposed in a feasibility study prepared for the SEQ Council of Mayors really reflected the movement's Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms "by making excellent use of existing facilities" rather than purpose-building new ones.

"This would lead to, I think, a pretty strong candidature," he said. "The first stage is for the Australians to say, and for the Queenslanders, to say 'yes we want to be a host to the entire world'.

"That's the first decision to be taken – yes, we want to host the athletes from all the 206 national Olympic committees.

"If this will is clear, then the reforms of the agenda allow this to coming true."

Mr Bach, who was speaking after attending the Australian Olympic Committee annual meeting in Sydney, will be in Brisbane tomorrow to discuss a possible 2032 Games bid with new Lord Mayor and SEQ Council of Mayors chairman Adrian Schrinner. He will then hold talks with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the SportAccord conference on the Gold Coast.

Cr Schrinner said he was keen to discuss the IOC's aims to make future games as close to cost-neutral as possible.

"That's something that should give all Queenslanders heart because they need to be affordable and they need to leave an infrastructure legacy."

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates threw down the gauntlet to governments to fix southeast Queensland's transport woes if they want to secure the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. "SEQ is well positioned to make a compelling case, but only if there is significant improvement in the region's transport infrastructure, including rail.

"This is not something that is Games-driven. If not fixed, there will be gridlock well before 2032," he said.

The State Government has yet to decide its position on a bid. Cr Schrinner said the Premier was active in attracting international movie productions here to showcase the state. "The Olympic Games is the equivalent of the biggest movie of all time in promoting Queensland to the world. I'm confident she will see the advantage of this opportunity if it can be delivered in a cost-effective manner."

'  "SEQ is well positioned to make a compelling case, but only if there is significant improvement in the region's transport infrastructure, including rail.

"This is not something that is Games-driven. If not fixed, there will be gridlock well before 2032," he said. '

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1125160160287084544

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1125151115203338240

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/1125244990844805120

[timh]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/1125244990844805120

This is great news. If they can actually get the games down to a more cost-neutral system, and inject that much money into local infrastructure, that would not only be an amazing outcome for SEQ (I have long said that the Olympics would be an excellent catalyst for new PT infrastructure), it would help save face for the IOC too as the Olympics have had a pretty bad rep as of late, especially since Rio.

[Stillwater]

$2.5 billion required in transport infrastructure every year between now and the staging of the Olympic games in 2032.   

[verbatim9]

Olympic Legacy Infrastructure Key to SEQ's Transport Success

Brisbane Development-------------->https://brisbanedevelopment.com/olympic-games-legacy-infrastructure-key-to-seqs-transport-success/

OPINION: South East Queensland should pursue the 2032 Olympic Games, not because of potential sporting achievements or international recognition, but because of the injection of infrastructure funds that we would otherwise not receive.

The large new infrastructure projects we are seeing coming to fruition like Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro are bare minimum 'catch up' projects. They are infrastructure projects that should have been delivered 10 years ago.

^^Great before and after slides and analysis of potential Olympic Precincts in Bne. North Shore, Albion and Victoria Park.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 2032 SEQ Olympics could turn profit after calculating error revealed

A SOUTHEAST Queensland Olympic Games could land a profit after the International Olympic Committee revealed that it would chip in a more than anticipated $2.5 billion to get the 2032 Games off the ground.

IOC president Thomas Bach met with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in Brisbane yesterday, where the pair discussed the region's potential bid to host the 2032 Games.

But a currency calculation error by the South East Queensland Council of Mayors has resulted in a potential funding windfall, which could lead to the Games securing a profit.

The council had been anticipating the IOC would provide $1.6 billion to the 2032 Olympic Games, but the IOC yesterday revealed that figure was the equivalent of about an extra $950 million.

Cr Schrinner said they were now confident of delivering a Games that was at the very least cost-neutral.

"That has been a key part of the discussion we have had this morning," he said.

"If that can be done in a cost-neutral manner, then I think we can see great potential for this in southeast Queensland."

Dr Bach said he was "pretty impressed" with the planning that was already under way by the Council of Mayors to host the event, describing their feasibility study as "extremely well founded".

"We should not forget that we are at the very early stages," he told reporters yesterday.

"Now it is up to the Australians to make their minds up to take the necessary decisions," he said.

The IOC president said that he was not willing to compare Brisbane's potential bid to those of other cities being ­considered for the 2032 Games because of how far out the event was.

The SEQ Council of Mayors is expected to confirm next year whether it will make a formal bid to host the 2032 Olympics.

The IOC will make a final decision on who will host the Games in 2025.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1125312697401106439

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Premier in talks to bring 2032 Olympics to Queensland

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is buoyant about the prospects of a Queensland Olympic bid after holding high-powered talks with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach on the Gold Coast.

Ms Palaszczuk held lengthy discussions with Mr Bach and Australia's own Olympic boss John Coates after the opening ceremony of the SportAccord summit on Tuesday night and yesterday described the meeting as 'inspiring'.

She said Mr Bach was very impressed with Queensland's ability to host big-time sports events, which bode well for any future bid for the 2032 Olympics.

"I was pleasantly surprised how enthusiastic he was about Queensland," she said.

"The fact that we delivered perhaps the most successful Commonwealth Games ever held and our enthusiasm for sport certainly impressed him.

"The conversation last night was inspiring."

But it's not just the Olympics that could come from the SportAccord being hosted in Queensland, with a push for the Gold Coast to host a round of the Red Bull Air Race.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said she hoped to secure up to $100 million worth of events as a result of hosting the international summit.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was still early days ahead of any potential Olympics bid, which would have to include more parts of the state than just the southeast to benefit all of Queensland.

In particular, Ms Palaszczuk wants to know if the IOC would relax some stipulations surrounding venue capacity to avoid creating a legacy of behemoth white elephants.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and his predecessor Graham Quirk have also met with Mr Bach during his Queensland visit.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has been unwavering in his stance not to commit any ratepayer funds to a bid, but yesterday conceded the council would be open to building some temporary stadiums to house events on the Glitter Strip.

Ms Palaszczuk said the Gold Coast would be a logical choice to host an Olympic surfing competition, with the sport to make its debut in Tokyo next year, while the beach volleyball would also be a perfect fit.

Spectacular Gold Coast weather has delivered a picture-perfect sales pitch to the 30-plus IOC delegates on the Glitter Strip for the SportAccord, a gathering of world sport's biggest brands and governing bodies.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday delivered a passionate address about the healing powers of sport, referring to the stirring image of North and South Korean athletes marching side-by-side under one flag at last year's Winter Olympics.

A joint-North and South Korea bid could be a major competitor for any Brisbane bid for the 2032 Olympics.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Southeast Queensland has got what it takes to host the Olympics

"THIS is a famous victory. A magnificent performance. What a legend. What a champion.''

With those 14 words, broadcaster Bruce McAvaney summed up the sentiments of a nation after Cathy Freeman had just won the 400m at the Sydney Olympics.

It was certainly one of the great moments in Australian sport. Australia held its breath that night, willing the shy little girl from Mackay to the finish line. Many a tear was shed as Australia saluted the enormity of her performance.

And for Australia it was more than Olympic gold. This was a story about hope, dreams and inspiration, of how an indigenous girl from a North Queensland town took on the world and triumphed on the biggest stage in sport.

The symbolism of what Cathy Freeman did that night should never be lost on this country. It gave hope to our indigenous brothers and sisters that anything is possible, with hard work and dedication.

It also demonstrated to a generation of young Australian girls that Australia is a land of hope and opportunity, whether it be as an Olympian, a pilot, a politician or brain surgeon.

After 2000, Australia celebrated its first female prime minister, governor-general and of course now Queensland has a woman premier, opposition leader, police commissioner and chief justice.

The lesson from the Sydney Olympics is that you can't put a cost on the cultural, emotional and psychological benefits of hosting the greatest show on Earth. Opportunity now knocks for a concerted southeast Queensland bid for the 2032 or 2036 Olympic Games.

It is clear the Internation-al Olympic Committee, under the leadership of Thomas Bach, believes the quality of the Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast regional offering is compelling. Our geopolitical and financial stability complements a proven track record of delivering. Sydney is still regarded as the best Olympics ever.

Sources say Bach was "incredibly supportive and impressed'' with what he saw, and was urging the Australian Olympic Committee to proceed to the next step, a proper feasibility study and then a formal bid.

The IOC process is now much more streamlined. Just as the IOC did with Paris and Los Angeles, if a bid is so good that it deserves to succeed, it will get the nod, whether for 2032 or 2036. This is a golden opportunity.

On top of the obvious nation character-building benefits, the infrastructure requirements and permanent benefits attached to hosting an Olympics are reason alone to bid and win in 2032-2036.

Brisbane came of age in the 1980s with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games and World Expo. South Bank is an enduring legacy to World Expo and it is now probably the city's most popular and famous landmark.

The Commonwealth Games has provided the Gold Coast with enduring legacies such as a world-class aquatic precinct and better roads and public transport.

The Palaszczuk Government has embraced events tourism and we saw with the NRL Magic Round last weekend that big events attract visitors and help our local economy. That's why the MMA event proposed for Brisbane in September must go ahead, with international visitation likely to be in the tens of thousands.

Brisbane is on the cusp of a golden era. We have the second airport runway due to open next year, a new cruise ship terminal, the $3 billion Queen's Wharf development in 2022 and the Brisbane Live project, a 17,000 seat arena planned for the Roma Street railyards.

Then there's the Cross-River Rail and Brisbane Metro to improve public transport. Hosting an Olympics would also spark fresh projects, including a likely second M1 linking Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

Victoria Park would be transformed to host the athletes' village. The cost of hosting an Olympics will be debated ad nauseam by our local, state and federal politicians. But the cost of a modern, progressive state such as Queensland not doing it far outweighs the final fiscal bill. Carpe diem.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Olympic Games momentum grows as Queenslanders back local bid

SUPPORT for an Olympic Games is gaining powerful momentum with two-thirds of Queenslanders backing a bid.

An exclusive survey for The Courier-Mail reveals a strong groundswell of public backing for a proposal by the SEQ Council of Mayors to mount an application to host the global event as the trigger for billions of dollars of badly-needed transport infrastructure.

The YouGov Galaxy survey found overall support across the state for a bid for the 2032 Games has leapt to 65 per cent – up from 56 per cent in October. Opposition has fallen from 34 per cent to just 25 per cent, with 10 per cent remaining uncommitted.

The appetite to bring the world's biggest sporting spectacle to the Sunshine State has jumped among all age groups. Nearly eight in 10 millennials are backing a bid, more than two-thirds of Generation X and over half of Baby Boomers.

"That's a significant increase in a relatively short time," Brisbane Lord Mayor and SEQ Council of Mayors chairman Adrian Schrinner said. "It's really looking exciting and it's good to see the community is getting excited as well."

The surging support comes as the mayors confirm that if a successful bid were made, the event would be officially known as the Brisbane 2032 Games, but events would be staged right across the southeast as well as in Cairns and Townsville.

And the International Olympic Committee will be asked to approve changes next month which would allow regions to bid, paving the way for SEQ to be the first to take advantage.

A working group chaired by Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates this week presented a package of recommended reforms to the IOC executive board which also include greater flexibility over the time frame for awarding games.

Traditionally, winning bids are announced seven years ahead of the event. But the 2024 Paris

Games and 2028 Los Angeles Games were awarded together in 2017.

And under the reforms proposed by Mr Coates' group, double awards could happen again – or the announcement of host cities could be delayed to give bidders more time to prepare.

It is all part of the IOC's new philosophy that Olympics have to adapt to the needs of host locations, rather than expecting cities to adapt.

Cr Schrinner said IOC president Thomas Bach's pledge earlier this month that the 2032 Games would be cost-neutral was a real boost.

The State Government has yet to decide on supporting a bid, but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said her recent meeting with Dr Bach was "very productive".

"The IOC has said that after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics it will invest in future bids. I will be seeking more detailed information from the IOC about the nature of that investment, and Mr Coates will be back in Queensland next month for further discussions. The financial implications of any bid would need to be considered very carefully before any taxpayer funds were committed."

Cr Schrinner said there was a growing public awareness that an Olympic bid could be the catalyst for delivering tens of billions of dollars of transport infrastructure that would be required in the region anyway, with the population expected to rise almost 60 per cent to 3.5 million in the next quarter-century.

"An Olympics would set a clear deadline when everything has to be done. It focuses the minds of all three levels of government."

The SEQ Council of Mayors has proposed a regional rapid rail network that would enable passengers to travel between the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Toowoomba and Brisbane in 45 minutes or less.

An Australian Olympic Committee spokesman said: "Obviously, the question of a commitment to transport infrastructure remains critical to any bid proceeding."

The return of the Morrison Government has also provided a lift. The Coalition committed $10 million during the election campaign towards putting an Olympic bid together. It has also promised to set up a National Faster Rail Agency from July to identify and develop corridors between cities and key regional centres.

And just before the election campaign, Prime Minister Scott Morrison agreed to a City Deal agreement with the State Government and SEQ Mayors to set and fund priority infrastructure and economic development projects for the next 25 years.

Federal LNP MP for the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax Ted O'Brien – a strong advocate for a City Deal and faster rail – said the stars could align with an Olympic bid to deliver a dream outcome for southeast Queensland. He said the survey results were good news.

"It speaks to the optimism Queenslanders have about the future of the state," he said. "SEQ is

absolutely ready to be centrestage for the world."

A City Deal, rapid rail network and Olympic bid were the top three points of an action plan developed from The Courier-Mail's FutureSEQ campaign late last year.

State Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said: "I back the Olympic Games because I want Queensland to be bold again. We should be building new transport infrastructure to bust congestion with or without the Games."

Queensland swim legend Susie O'Neill, who competed at the Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, said she was pleasantly surprised by the support.

"It would be amazing for the region. People still talk about Sydney and the support there. I reckon we would smash it up here."

For athletes currently in their pre-teens or early teens, the prospect of competing at an Olympics in their own country would be incredibly inspiring, she said.

"I remember the spur it gave me," said O'Neill, who this month was appointed a deputy chef de mission to the Australian team for next year's Tokyo Olympics.

AOC President John Coates is a keynote speaker at a lunch at the Howard Smith Wharves on June 13 as part of The Courier-Mail's Future Tourism series.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1138903703014875136

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Premier seeks meeting with PM to lock in Brisbane Olympic bid

A potential bid for southeast Queensland to host the 2032 Olympic Games has taken another step forward with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk seeking talks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison over support for a tilt.

A POTENTIAL bid for southeast Queensland to host the 2032 Olympic Games has taken another step forward with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk seeking talks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison over support for a tilt.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones yesterday told 500 industry movers and shakers at The Courier-Mail's Future Tourism lunch that Ms Palaszczuk has written to the PM "in regards to how do we work together and really understanding what their commitment is".

She also confirmed that International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has invited Ms Palaszczuk to the IOC's Lausanne headquarters in Switzerland for further discussions in September.

It came as Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates emphasised that SEQ will be the only Australian contender for the global sporting spectacle and urged the crowd at Howard Smith Wharves: "The 2032 Olympic Games is there to win."

As The Courier-Mail reported yesterday, rule changes to go before the IOC on June 26, will allow a Future Host Commission to recommend a 2032 host to be named as soon as next July – 12 years before the event.

They will also broaden the host criteria from individual cities to multiple cities, regions, states or even countries.

"Under these reforms, the Games adapt to the city, not the city to the Games," he said. Mr Coates said SEQ was the only region in Australia with the "requisite climate, population and sporting infrastructure to host a summer Games in July/August'' as mandated by the Olympic movement.

"What needs to happen next is for the Queensland Government to commission an economic assessment based on the plan outlined in the Olympic Games Feasibility Study (commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors)."

A leadership group of Mr Coates, the Premier and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner would then set the vision and review venue masterplan options and costs.

Mr Coates detailed how a deal with the NBC network in the US, delivering the IOC $US2.3 billion ($3.3 billion) every four years up to and including 2032 would help ensure an SEQ event broke even. Reforms have already slashed $US4.3 billion ($6.2 billion) from the budget for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by using existing and temporary venues, shorter rental periods and other measures.

Last year's Commonwealth Games showed that Queensland had a proven ­capacity to stage major international events.

"The rest of the sporting world know we are a safe bet," he said.

Mr Coates said hosting the Games would ensure a boost for tourism.

"Once an Olympic city, always an Olympic city and an attraction to conference organisers and individual visitors."

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said aiming for the 2032 Olympics was a big ambition.

"Success will change the city irrevocably. It will mean changes to roads and rail, to arts and culture, to retail and restaurants. Hosting an Olympics is an opportunity which stretches way beyond the parameters of a 14-day sporting contest," Mr Miller said.

Leading demographer and social commentator Bernard Salt, who conducted exclusive research for our Future Tourism campaign, said that the ethnic shifts in Australia's population from an Anglo base to an increasingly Asian one created tourism ­opportunities.

But while overall visitor numbers were rising, Queensland's market share against NSW and Victoria had slipped due to the international "studification" of the southern states. That meant we were also missing out on a "Baby Boomer bump'' of visits by the parents of overseas tertiary students.

He called for the Sunshine State to expand air routes to cities in China and other Asian cities to promote a "hop, hop, home'' strategy of encouraging the relatives of international students to visit southeast Queensland and the tropical far-north or Whitsundays on their way back.

Destination Brisbane Consortium chairman John O'Neill said the group's $3.6 billion Queen's Wharf precinct in the CBD was "the opportunity of a lifetime".

Tourism and Events Queensland chief executive Leanne Coddington said the recent launch of ScUber – the world's first rideshare submarine was part of an effort to create positive sentiment around the Great Barrier Reef amid claims it was dying.

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Olympic bid: Rule change favours SEQ

SOUTHEAST Queensland's hopes of hosting the 2032 Olympic Games have taken a leap forward, with historic rule changes approved last night that boost the region's chances of winning the right to stage the huge sporting spectacle.

The International Olympic Committee's 134th Session last night approved historic rule changes which substantially boost our chances of winning the right to stage the greatest sporting spectacle in the world.

In future, regions and countries - not just individual cities - will be able to put themselves forward as hosts. The changes to the Olympic Charter also mean the decision to award games can be made much earlier than the traditional seven years out.

It opens the door to SEQ being selected for 2032 as early as next year if a strong proposal is presented.

They are among the most significant moves in the 123 years since the modern Olympics began and build on the revolutionary Agenda 2020 ''new norm' model intended to make organising and staging Games more flexible, cheaper and more attractive to potential hosts.

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, who chaired the working group which recommended the reforms, said last night: "We have reached a significant milestone today with the IOC Session signing off on these changes."

Future Host Commissions for summer and winter games would be set up to work with prospective bidders earlier to assess opportunities and risks and make recommendations to the IOC executive board.

An 18-month feasibility study commissioned by the SEQ Council of Mayors - conducted by international specialist consults Lagardere Sports / EKS - concluded in February that there is a "compelling" case for the region to mount a bid to stage the 2032 event.

It is based on the IOC's new approach - to be adopted for all Games from Tokyo 2020 - to reduce costs and eliminate the risk of expensive white elephant constructions which have dogged previous events.

"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.

Multiple atheletes villages can be used to keep competitors close to venues.

IOC president Thomas Bach has said the 2032 Games will be cost-neutral.

He visited the region last month for the SportAccord convention and was strongly impressed. He said SEQ was in a "special'' position following the success of the Commonwealth Games.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has yet to commit to supporting a bid but said she was inspired at her meeting with Dr Bach and will meet him again in Switzerland in September for further discussions.

Public support has grown quickly. A YouGov Galaxy survey last month found 65 per cent of Queenslanders back a bid - up from 56 per cent in October.

Meanwhile, the Olympic chiefs voted to include breakdancing in the Paris 2024 Games along with surfing, climbing and skateboarding.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> The race is on for the 2032 Olympic Games, and we're backing a southeast Queensland bid

The starter's pistol has been fired for the 2032 Olympic Games — and southeast Queensland cannot risk being left standing at the starting blocks when hosting the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet is at stake.

THE starter's pistol has been fired for the 2032 Olympic Games — and south-east Queensland cannot risk being left standing, warns Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates.

"The opportunity is there now. Be careful not to let the moment pass," Mr Coates said.

Today, The Courier-Mail joins our fellow News Corp Australia newspapers in the region – the Gold Coast Bulletin, Sunshine Coast Daily, Queensland Times and Toowoomba Chronicle – in backing an SEQ bid to host the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet.

Historic rule changes to the Games bid process passed by the International Olympic Committee Session in Switzerland on Wednesday dramatically boost the region's chances of winning the right to stage the event.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss the bid with International Olympic Committee chairman Thomas Bach on the side of this weekend's G20 summit in Japan.

Mr Coates, a veteran of the Olympic movement, said there was no time to waste and he will be organising a meeting with the PM, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Brisbane Lord Mayor and SEQ Council of Mayors chairman Adrian Schrinner to plan the next steps towards a bid "as quickly as possible".

"We still have to know the State Government has come on board," he said.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said an endless opportunity and extraordinary transformation for south-east Queensland awaits, and urged leaders to "now is the time to move".

Olympic triple medallist swimmer and businessman Mark Stockwell, who chaired the successful bid for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, says an Olympic authority should be set up urgently to lead the planning for a 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

"It's very important for this to have success over the long term, not just the event but the legacy, to have a group of people who can do all the planning early – and importantly to bring the nation with you," he said.

The changes to the Olympic Charter pave the way for the region to be selected as the location for the 2032 Games potentially as soon as the IOC session immediately before the Tokyo 2020 Games next July if we present a well-advanced, attractive proposal to the newly created Future Hosts Commission.

Mr Coates says a more likely time frame for choosing a preferred host would be at the session the following year. "That's 11 years to prepare and to build the impetus," he said.

An immediate priority was for the State Government to undertake a full economic assessment, building on the feasibility report for the Games feasibility report for SEQ Mayors in February.

It is estimated the new candidacy process will slash the cost of winning the right to host from as much as $40 million to about $10 million.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Annastacia Palaszczuk and Scott Morrison to talk Olympics bid in their first post-election meeting

Annastacia Palaszczuk will use a meeting with Scott Morrison today — her first with the PM since his May election victory — to discuss a possible Queensland Olympics bid.

ANNASTACIA Palaszczuk will use her first meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison since his May election victory to discuss a possible Queensland Olympics bid.

A spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk yesterday confirmed the Premier would be meeting with Mr Morrison today during his Queensland visit.

The spokesman said Ms Palaszczuk was "very much looking forward"' to the discussion.

It is understood to be one of the only meetings the pair have had together — outside of a COAG meeting — since Mr Morrison took over the top job from former PM Malcolm Turnbull.

The Courier-Mail understands Ms Palaszczuk will use the opportunity to discuss the Commonwealth's support not just for an 2032 Olympics bid, but for funding for the Games themselves, as well as the vital infrastructure that will be needed to pull it off.

Ms Palaszczuk is also understood to be planning to talk to Mr Morrison about Queensland's share of infrastructure funding in general.

Using an Olympics bid to help fast-track critical infrastructure needs in southeast Queensland was at the top of the action plan delivered during The Courier-Mail's Future Tourism campaign last month.

The Premier last month gave her strongest indication yet that she was considering backing an Olympics bid.

But her sticking point has been how much the Commonwealth is willing to put on the table.

"What we need to see from Canberra is a commitment ... that they will back any bid that will be to the same tune as the Sydney 2000 Olympics," the Premier has previously said.

The Commonwealth has committed $10 million towards the preparation of an Olympics bid with Mr Morrison assuring Olympics chief Thomas Bach last month that he was his government would support a bid from southeast Queensland "every step of the way".

Today's meeting with the Prime Minister comes ahead of Labor's annual caucus retreat where the Premier and her Ministers are expected to be subjected to a grilling by the backbench.

MPs will spend today and tomorrow holed up together in the marginal LNP seat of Caloundra — a target seat for Labor ahead next year's State Election — for the strategy meeting.

The retreats are designed to allow the backbench a space to air concerns and this year, they are understood to be planning to quiz the Premier and her Cabinet on not only the Adani coal mine approvals debacle but also Labor's poor showing at the Federal Election and what the Government and State Labor are doing to turn things around.

[Stillwater]

This whole proposal depends on a City Deal involving the Commonwealth, Queensland Government and the councils of SEQ.  Time we got an update on the City Deal after the theatrics of Ms Trad signing an agreement to have a City Deal and making such a big deal of it. 

Now, going on past form, Queensland will hold out, demanding more money from Canberra and hoping for a better deal or risk Australia (the Commonwealth) embarrassment on the international arena. Anna, Trad and Co. would have no qualms about that.  We might even face the prospect of the Commonwealth wanting to fund projects it favours, such as SCL duplication, and the State Government wanting to put that same money into something like passenger rail to Beaudesert.

The elephant in the room is whether Queensland has sufficient money to fund its part of any deal -- particularly with debt at record levels and the Labor Government refusing to sell state assets to fund new infrastructure.

[#Metro]

I'm surprised that the politicians think ordinary people read or care about what they write in news releases. People are far too busy nowadays, and distracted with Facebook, Instagram etc.

[ozbob]

Couriermail 13th July 2019 page 17

ScoMo's aboard for SEQ 2032 bid

THE Federal Government would be a "willing partner" to a 2032 southeast Queensland Olympics bid Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has promised as part of breakthrough talks with Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Mr Morrison is understood to have told the Premier a Sunshine State bid for the Games would have the full backing of the Federal Government during an almost one-hour meeting in Ms Palaszczuk's Brisbane office.

Despite some tension between the pair previously, it is understood to have been a positive meeting and expected to lead to outcomes.

J ob-crea ting infrastructure will also be fasttracked in Queensland in a separate agreement between the two leaders yesterday.

Ms Palaszczuk has been reluctant to sign up to the bid, being pushed by the Southeast Queensland Council of Mayors, waiting to discuss the matter with Mr Morrison and demanding funding certainty.

It was despite Mr Morrison committing $10 million towards a bid during the federal election campaign and speaking openly in support of it.

Mr Morrison is understood to have given Ms Palaszczuk the assurance that the Federal Government would assist with funding both the bid and the Games itself. It would also provide assistance with national security and border security, similar to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Ms Palaszczuk is seeking further details about the bid process from the International Olympic Committee.

"We were just waiting on the final report coming from the IOC ... then we will make a decision about that," she said. Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien will today be appointed the Commonwealth's representative on any 2032 bid and will co-ordinate with federal colleagues, ministers and third parties.

"There's no doubt securing the 2032 Olympics would be an enormous coup, but there's a lot of work to do between now and then," he said. The two leaders also discussed infrastructure projects.

The State Government will bring forward a wish list of projects, which the Prime Minister will then consider.

Cross River Rail has been ruled out and will remain fully funded by the state.

"Queensland would work in a collaborative effort with Canberra, and the Prime Minister, to see where we can accelerate some infrastructure," Ms Palaszczuk said. "At the end of the day it's about jobs and getting people into work."

[ozbob]

[timh]

I'd be very keen to see what their list of "wish list" projects are. My guesses are SCL duplication, CAMCOS, Gold coast fast rail, M1 widening and Coomera Connector. As much as I'd love to see Northern and Eastern busways on the list, state government doesn't seem to care about those at all

[ozbob]

If they are smart they will go in big for ATP - ETCS L2 for the entire Citytrain network. 

This with selected track upgrades, will deliver the best bang for the buck for rail.

There is the not so insignificant matter of more new trains too ...   

[Fares_Fair]

Hon Ted O'Brien MP, federal member for Fairfax (Sunshine Coast) appointed the Commonwealth liaison for the SEQ 2032 Olympics bid.
This is good news.
He is a driver of #SunshineCoast rail duplication, and CAMCOS.
He said (rail) to Nambour in 5 years and to Maroochydore in 10 years.

I now see an 80/20 funding split for #2tracks / #2tracksFast as being inevitable under these circumstances.

[Stillwater]

        

[Stillwater]

Nine Newspapers reporting:


Scott Morrison is throwing his government's weight fully behind Queensland's bid to stage the 2032 Olympic games.

The prime minister - a proud Sydneysider - has told the party faithful at a conference in Brisbane, he thought the Sydney 2000 games were "tremendous". "Queenslanders will not let that stand," he told the Queensland state LNP Council and Annual Convention on Saturday.

"They will want to better Sydney in terms of what they do here in Queensland."

He said his government has already put forward $10 million for the much needed partnership between all levels of government in the state to help prepare for the games.

He has also nominated Queensland LNP federal MP Ted O'Brien to help with the bid on behalf of the Commonwealth, working with both state and local governments.

The prime minister urged the state government to get on board, having told him it is "waiting on a few things".

"There is a window of opportunity here and that's why it is so important for the Queensland government to get on board," he said.

[Fares_Fair]

Hon Ted O'Brien MP, federal member for Fairfax (Sunshine Coast) appointed the Commonwealth liaison for the SEQ 2032 Olympics bid.
This is good news.
He is a driver of #SunshineCoast rail duplication, and CAMCOS.
He said (rail) to Nambour in 5 years and to Maroochydore in 10 years.

I now see an 80/20 funding split for #2tracks / #2tracksFast as being inevitable under these circumstances.

To clarify.
The Commonwealth Govt could hold out until the October 31, 2020 election where a 50/50 split is a certainty under a change of state government - but I don't think there is the time to hold out for another 12 months with nothing happening. It has to start to meet the deadlines proposed.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Scott Morrison addresses LNP state convention in Brisbane

In his first major address in Queensland since the state propelled him to an unlikely election victory, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told the State Labor Government it's "wasting time" on a critical issue.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has warned the Queensland Labor Government it's wasting time over a 2032 Olympic bid, as he delivered a rousing thanks to Queenslanders for their support in May's federal election.

Delivering his first major address in Queensland since being returned to power on May 18, Mr Morrison told the LNP state convention in Brisbane his Government was all-in on a bid for the Games, announcing that Sunshine Coast-based MP Ted O'Brien would be a Commonwealth representative tasked to build an Olympic bid with all levels of government.

"There's a window of opportunity here, and that's why it's so important that the Queensland Government get on board," he said.

"Now they've told me they're waiting on a few things.

"Now I don't remember (NSW leaders and deputies) Nick Greiner and John Fahey and Bruce Baird waiting on a few things when they set their minds about actually going out there and winning that bid for Sydney.

"You've got to be all-in on this... Queenslanders are all-in and it's time for the Queensland Government to get all-in on this bid."

Mr Morrison said he had "spruiked my socks" for Queensland at a recent meeting in Japan with Olympic heavyweights.

Mr Morrison, who was wearing a maroon tie, entered to a standing ovation at the LNP annual convention and started his speech with his now-trademark slogan "how good is Queensland".

In a speech laden with praise of the state — which was the LNP's strongest performing at the federal election — Mr Morrison said his team deeply respected and understood Queensland.

"I want to thank Queenslanders for believing in me, and I want to thank Queenslanders for believing in my team," he said.

[Stillwater]

Olympics are the modern day equivalent of 'bread and circuses' largesse of the Roman Empire.  If your political fortunes are waning, just bring on more Christians, lions and gladiators.

The Olympics can also be catalysts for urban renewal, which is what we should be concentrating on.

The Palaszczuk Government will (as usual) try to drive a hard bargain to get the maximum dollars from the feds and reduce its own financial exposure to the cost of the Games.

In doing so, they will stall projects until the last minute.  There would then be an almighty rush to complete them.

The risk the government would run is this -- so much work at the one time that the construction industry will find it difficult to have the capacity to complete projects on time, driving up prices.  It would be a 'name your price' scenario.

Yes, Ms Palaszczuk might get an extra 10 per cent out of Canberra, but that would be gobbled up by the mess she would then create by having so much work happening at the one time.

[ozbob]

The Council of Mayors SEQ has good carriage of this.  I see this as the only real hope to keep things on track so speak.  I think we can take it as a given that SEQ (Queensland) will be hosting the games.  The transport planning must commence immediately and serious moves made to sort out the mess.

Let the games begin! 

[ozbob]

[#Metro]

I was not for the Olympics in SEQ, but since then the IOC has acknowledged that cities will pull out if the costs are too high. The allowance of a regional bid is positive as it will allow existing venues to be used for the games.

[ozbob]

^ I had some initial reservations too.  But I have met with the reps from the Council of Mayors, and have seen that the IOC has rolled over to regional games framework so happy if it goes ahead (it will .. ).  Might give a leg up to some transport upgrades if the State (BIG IF) plays its cards right.  The Council of Mayors has its collective act together.  I think it will work out well in the end ...

[AnonymouslyBad]

I think it will be interesting to see what list of venues is put together. Even though the IOC is allowing "region" bids, I think they'll still want some kind of cohesion between it all.

Assuming it really is a smattering across the whole region, what's our infrastructure wish list? The more I think about it the deeper the rabbit hole goes--

• Quadruplication to Beenleigh. It goes without saying that there will be both Bris and GC venues
• Eastern Busway (I'm assuming Chandler is a thing since even the Comm Games used it)
• CAMCOS
• All the rail upgrades to support CAMCOS, probably quad to Petrie and double to Landsborough
• GC light rail extension and east-west branches

And..let's not forget Toowoomba is part of SEQ. For the purposes of transport discussion we say it isn't, but that's a convenient little fiction from Translink et al. because the infrastructure simply isn't there. So:

• Normal inter-urban passenger rail between Brisbane and Toowoomba. Yep, that means tunnels at insane expense

I'm not sure how the SEQ Council of Mayors and Queensland Government aren't a bit terrified at the prospect of winning a bid. They need a lot of money, and probably several billion effective immediately, to have infrastructure up to scratch by 2032.

As for proper fast rail between cities, I think we need to be realistic     It would be nice but there are more pressing issues than whether a 90 minute trip becomes 60. Do what can be done within the existing corridors to make services faster, but frequency, legibility, usability are more important.

[Stillwater]

^ Yes.  Look at the long lead times for CRR and apply that to about four or five major transport projects, including rapid rail to Toowoomba. And then complicate it with the political squabbles and electioneering, both state and federal in the lead-up to 2032.  It is a tall order for Queensland.

The list should include another order for NGR trains to successfully operate CRR. How long would that take, for instance.

One thing is sure -- Ms Trad should not be the Queensland Olympics Minister.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Olympic quest: Coast MP's push to be frontrunner

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has hand-picked Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien to spearhead the bid for the 2032 Olympic Games in southeast Queensland as the Commonwealth representative.

Mr O'Brien said it was no secret that the Sunshine Coast would be a fantastic home ground for prestigious Olympic events as "it falls into our sweet spot".

"We are already a great sporting region. We have an enormous amount of talent, born from the grassroots of sport, some elite athletes who are the world's best," he said.

Mr O'Brien added he had high hopes that a successful Olympic bid could also see infrastructure fast-tracked on the Coast, including the SEQ fast rail, which would be beneficial for the Games.

"The idea of an Olympic Games, which would bring the best of the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and beyond, is a compelling proposition," he said.

"(And) it's no secret that my vision for infrastructure in southeast Queensland is an SEQ fast rail network.

"If we were successful, we should unashamedly use that to accelerate our infrastructure ...and of course that would be very welcomed."

While securing the Olympic Games in Queensland's southeast corner would "no doubt" be challenging, he said it was "winnable" if all parties were prepared to put their best foot forward as a united force.

But Mr O'Brien said there was still one more party to jump on the bandwagon - Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

"We need the Premier to do what the Prime Minister has done (and) indicate that she's in boots-and-all," he said.

"This is going to require a team Australia approach. Nothing less ... will see us being able to host the 2032 Games."

Ms Palaszczuk has been reluctant to sign up to the bid, demanding funding certainty.

Mr O'Brien said the longer they wait, the less chance the region has to be a front runner as time, reservation and pessimism "kills deals".

"You don't get to host an Olympic Games without there being a large united force," he said.

"That united force will need to consist of the Federal Government, the State Government, local governments, the Australian Olympics Committee and also the private sector community at large."

As the Federal Government has announced it is in with the bid and will dedicate up to $10 million for the deal making process, Mr O'Brien said it was time the State Government did likewise.

"As much as 2032 is a long way away, if we move fast with a united approach we can capture first mover advantage ... and that counts if you play your cards right," he said.

"The Prime Minister certainly did not appoint me to this role because of my elite athleticism, but I think it would be fair to say that any athlete would recognise the value of being first down the blocks."