Australia’s Olympic Candidature Leadership Group will meet with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) early next week to discuss Queensland’s potential candidature for the 2032 Olympics.
The Australian delegation, jointly led by Federal Member for Fairfax, Ted O’Brien MP (representing Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP) and the Queensland Premier, the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, will meet with IOC President, Mr Thomas Bach.
Mr O’Brien said the group is adopting a Team Australia approach in pursing the opportunity.
“The Australian Government is delighted to take this important next step with the Queensland Government, the Australian Olympic Committee and the South East Queensland Council of Mayors to make a strong first impression in support of our candidature for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mr O’Brien said.
“A delegation of elected representatives from three tiers of government speaks volumes about our unity of purpose, and the fact we wear different political stripes just goes to show how serious we are about working together,” Mr O’Brien said.
“This visit is an important opportunity for early engagement with the IOC. It isn’t about spruiking, it’s about listening. I want to ensure we’re gleaning every possible insight from the IOC so we can put together the greatest pitch the Olympic Movement has ever seen.”
The delegation will also meet with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee to understand how planning for the 2024 Games will deliver a legacy for the French community.
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Key points
- In May 2019 the Prime Minister announced the Australian Government will provide a contribution of up to $10 million to support Queensland’s candidature for the 2032 Olympic Games.
- The Queensland Government has established a taskforce, chaired by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, to assess the value proposition and economic benefits of hosting the 2032 event for Queensland and Australia more broadly.
- The 2032 Olympic Candidature Leadership Group comprises the Prime Minister (Chair with second representative Ted O’Brien MP), Queensland Premier Palaszczuk (second representative Kate Jones MP, Minister for Tourism and Events), Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner (second representative Mayor of Sunshine Coast Mark Jamieson) and Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates (second representative Matt Carroll).
- The IOC has recently approved changes to increase the flexibility for selecting future Olympic and Paralympic Games hosts, which would be favourable for an Australian 2032 candidature and could support an Australian submission to the IOC at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
- These changes include:
- establishing future Host Commissions – evaluation groups that will explore and create interest among cities, regions, countries and National Olympic Committees to host the Olympic Games. This prospecting initiative was not previously required to generate interest to host the event;
- allowing candidatures from multiple cities, from regions and countries, focussed around existing sports venues. A single host city was previously required to be nominated in the bidding process; and
- the end of the requirement to determine a Games host seven years before that Games. Cities will be able to propose a timetable that aligns with their own growth and development plans. This flexibility follows the special changes made to enable Los Angeles to be selected 11 years before their Games in 2028.
Why an Olympics for SEQ?
Ted talks about the trip and why it’s important that any decision to hold the Olympics is firmly centred on benefiting Queensland communities.
