Council of Mayors (SEQ) has today voted to proceed with a feasibility study into a possible bid for a 2028 Olympic Games for SEQ.
A year ago the Mayors of South East Queensland voted unanimously to support the undertaking of a pre-feasibility study in relation to the potential staging of an Olympic Games.
The SEQ Mayors recently endorsed the findings of that pre-feasibility study which determined there were sufficient economic, social and cultural benefits to warrant further investigation into an SEQ Olympic Games.
The Report concluded that the SEQ region had the potential to successfully bid for and deliver the
2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games however detailed analysis was required through a People Mass Movement study, an SEQ Sporting and Performance Space Review and full Olympic Feasibility Study before a bid can be considered.
“This process has demonstrated that an overwhelming majority of SEQ Mayors and Councillors are committed to further investigation into a possible SEQ 2028 Olympic Games bid, and this aligns with the positive support we’ve received from the community and industry in SEQ,” Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair Cr Graham Quirk said.
“A recent independent opinion poll of South East Queenslanders showed 62 per cent of people supported the proposal, with only 30 per cent against it.”
Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President and International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates was equally excited at the progress made in the Sunshine State.
“We welcome the decision by the mayors of South-East Queensland to proceed with the funding of the feasibility study into a bid based around Brisbane for the 2028 Olympic Games,” Coates said.
“The AOC has supported the concept of a feasibility study from the outset. We see this as the first step in the process.”
Any decision by the AOC to proceed will be based on the IOCs Agenda 2020 recommendations to potential bid cities:
1. Potential candidate cities need to present an Olympic project that best matches their sports, economic, social and environmental long-term planning needs.
2. They must promote the maximum use of existing facilities.
Coates believes South East Queensland is in a good position to fulfil these requirements.
“We believe this would be possible given the existing venues and infrastructure spread throughout the entire Council of Mayors area of south-east Queensland.
“The current venues centred on Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast would be boosted by the additional venues being built as part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.”
While no decision about an Olympic Games bid is needed until 2019 there are many steps to take before such a decision would be considered.
