Sport boss claims hosting the Olympic Games in Queensland in 2032 could pull Australia out of a post-coronavirus recession
- Olympics could help pull Australia out of post-coronavirus recession, boss says
- Tokyo Games scheduled for this year have been pushed back due to pandemic
- South-east Queensland have put in a bid to host the Olympic Games in 2032
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Australia’s Olympic Committee boss has claimed hosting the Games could pull the country out of a post-coronavirus recession.
The Tokyo Games scheduled for this year have been pushed back to 2021 due to the pandemic, but AOC remains confident in south-east Queensland’s bid to host in 2032.
AOC President John Coates insisted it wasn’t a bad time for governments to invest in the bid despite the economic issues generated by the pandemic.
‘There is already a need for jobs and growth in the Queensland economy arising from the impact of COVID-19,’ he told Saturday’s AOC annual general meeting, which was held via a video conference.
Australia’s Olympic Committee boss has claimed hosting the games could pull the country out of a post-coronavirus recession. Pictured: The Olympic logo in Tokyo
The Tokyo Games scheduled for this year have been pushed back to 2021 due to the pandemic. Pictured: Olympic bound athlete Gen Gregson trains in Melbourne, Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
‘Our (government partners) recognise a potential 2032… Games as a critical part of the state and nation’s economic recovery in the short term, quite apart from all of the long-term health, well-being, economic and sporting legacies.’
‘It’s even better because the idea of this is using existing community and sporting venues and turbocharging the economy at a time it needs it in terms of new road and rail infrastructure.’
Preparations for the 2032 bid – which would focus around Brisbane – were continuing though he had cancelled an April 21 meeting of the Olympic candidature leadership group which would have been chaired by the prime minister.
‘It was clear to me we shouldn’t be seeking the attention of the politicians during this time,’ Coates added.
‘I don’t think the community would have understood if we were pushing something like this publicly when the community has got these massive health and safety issues to deal with.’
The International Olympic Committee is expected to make a decision on the host in either 2022 or 2023.
AOC President John Coates insisted it wasn’t a bad time for governments to invest in the bid despite the economic issues generated by the pandemic
AOC remains confident in south-east Queensland’s bid to host the games in 2032. Pictured: Georgia Godwin of Australia performs on the uneven bars during the 2020 World Cup of Gymnastics in February
AOC CEO Matt Carroll said Australia could potentially have the greatest 10 years in it’s sporting history from 2022 to 2032.
Australia has already secured the 2022 women’s basketball World Cup, joined with New Zealand to bid for the 2023 women’s football World Cup and has announced it’s intention to bid for the 2027 men’s rugby World Cup.
‘Basketball and football and I presume rugby are all going to try and bid for various tournaments in the lead up (to the 2032 Olympics),’ Mr Carroll told AAP after Saturday’s meeting.
‘It could be the greatest 10 years between 2022 and 2032 in Australian sporting history.
‘The (2032 Olympic) candidature is coming together well.’
The AOC don’t expect a vaccine for coronavirus to be produced in time for the Tokyo Games, where it expects to have the third largest squad of competitors.
Despite the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic, the AOC is in a strong financial position and doesn’t anticipate any cash flow issues.
Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll says the nation could potentially have the greatest 10 years in it’s sporting history from 2022 to 2032.