Brisbane is in pole position to host the 2032 Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited the Australian city to enter “detailed discussions” for the mega-event.
Following the recommendation of the Future Host Commission for the Games, the IOC Executive Board will enter into a “targeted dialogue” with the Brisbane 2032 Committee and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) about their potential to host the Olympic Games 2032.
The IOC said the decision to advance the process “was taken at this particular moment, given the uncertainty the world is facing right now”. A statement said: “This uncertainty is expected to continue even after the Covid-19 health crisis is over. The IOC is considering seizing the momentum offered by the excellent project of Brisbane 2032 and the AOC, in this way, bringing stability to the Olympic Games, the athletes, the IOC and the whole Olympic Movement.”
IOC president Thomas Bach added: “According to the clear report of the Future Host Commission, the Brisbane 2032 project is fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020 and the new recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020+5. It proposes sustainable games in line with the region’s long-term strategy and using primarily existing and temporary venues.
“The commitment of Australia and Oceania to Olympic sports has grown remarkably since the fantastic Olympic Games Sydney 2000. This is why we see such strong public support. We decided to seize an opportunity to take to the next stage our discussions about returning 32 years later. In this way, we are also acknowledging the strength of the Australian team and other athletes from across the continent of Oceania at the Olympic Games over the past decades.”
According the IOC statement the main reasons why Brisbane 2032 was proposed for the targeted dialogue were:
- Very advanced games concept, which is fully aligned with Olympic Agenda 2020 and using 80% to 90% existing or temporary venues.
- Venue masterplan, which has already been discussed with International Sports Federations and the International Paralympic Committee.
- High level of experience in hosting major international sports events.
- Favourable climate conditions for athletes in July and August, despite the current global challenges caused by climate change.
- The alignment of the proposed games with South-East Queensland’s long-term strategy (“SEQ City Deal”, February 2019) to improve local transport infrastructure, absorb demographic change and promote economic growth.
- Australia’s sporting success throughout modern Olympic history. The last games in Oceania were Sydney 2000, which would mean the Games returning to the continent 32 years later.
- Existing and planned transport infrastructure and experience in traffic management, which can adequately meet the demands of the Olympic Games and were successfully implemented for the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
- Existing hotel accommodation inventory, which already meets Games requirements.
- Strong support from all three levels of government, as confirmed on several occasions by highest-level representatives from the City of Brisbane, the Southeast Queensland Council of Mayors, the State of Queensland and the federal government.
- Strong public support and that of the private sector.
- Australia’s high scores on human development indices, in particular its great progress towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Kristin Kloster Aasen, chair of the Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad, said: “We are delighted the IOC Executive Board agreed with the Commission’s recommendation to invite Brisbane 2032 to targeted dialogue. The IOC EB and the Commission noted the excellent progress that it has made, the strength of its proposition and the strategic opportunities it affords to the Olympic Movement. It meets all the criteria to be invited to move into the next stage.”