Brisbane tapped for 2032 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has designated Brisbane its preferred host city for the 2032 Summer Olympic Games, awarding Queensland exclusive negotiation rights for the event and making Australia the overwhelming favourite to host its third-ever Olympic Games.
Brisbane is the IOC's preferred choice for the 2032 Olympic Games (Photo: AP/David J. Phillip)
The IOC executive voted unanimously overnight to approve the decision made by their Future Host Summer Commission, with IOC President Thomas Bach announcing the decision to reporters this morning.
The IOC will now enter an exclusive “targeted dialogue” with Brisbane to finalise details and financial guarantees for the event, which, if successful, will see the city formally named the host city next year.
Brisbane beat out numerous other cities, including Budapest, Istanbul, Doha, New Delhi and Germany’s Rhine Ruhr region, which had all previously flagged interest in hosting the 2032 Games.
It would be Australia’s third time holding the event, after Sydney 2000 and Melbourne 1956.
The IOC host commission chair Kristin Kloster outlined at an IOC press briefing the reasons for approving Brisbane’s bid this early in the process.
“The decision to advance the process was taken now given the uncertainty the world is facing at the moment which is expected to continue even after the COVID-19 health crisis is over,” Kloster told reporters at a press briefing.
“The IOC is seizing the momentum offered by the excellent project of Brisbane 2032 and the Australian Olympic Committee, in this way bringing stability to the Olympic Games.
“The main reason Brisbane 2032 was proposed for the targeted dialogue are: the very advanced games concept … using 80 to 90 per cent of existing or temporary venues, the venue masterplan, the high levels of expertise in hosting major international sporting events [and] the favourable climate conditions for athletes in July and August.”
Kloster also noted the alignment of Brisbane’s bid with a long-term strategy to transform south east Queensland’s transport infrastructure.
A report in February forecast the south-east Queensland bid would deliver a $36 billion windfall for the state.
The Value Proposition Assessment report predicted $20 billion in tourist spending plus $8.6b in increased export opportunities and some $7.4b in economic benefits.
Staging the Olympics would essentially cost Queensland nothing, with the IOC promising about $2.6b and further costs covered by sponsorships and ticket sales.
-AAP
