Decision 35 years coming
Brisbane earns right
BRISBANE has won the 2032 Olympic Games.
International Olympic Committee members have been wowed by Australia’s three tiered government financial guarantees – and the sunny skies – to feel confident to award the greatest sporting show on earth to the Queensland capital in 11 years’ time.
IOC president Thomas Bach’s announcement on Wednesday night at the Okura hotel, where more than 80 members are meeting, will transform Brisbane from an emerging global city into an Olympic powerhouse. In a watershed moment, Brisbane’s six years of meticulous planning culminated in a secret ballot lasting no longer than half an hour.
IOC members were asked if they “agree to elect Brisbane as the host of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad 2032”.
The vote came after a slick and colourful 20-minute final presentation to the members, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in a video link from Canberra and the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who had flown to Tokyo especially to eyeball the IOC members.
Brisbane will become just the third Australian capital after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000 – and the 24th global city – to host an Olympic Games.
The attention of the world will return to Brisbane in 2032 almost half-a-century to the day since the state-changing 1982 Commonwealth Games.
Sydney’s hugely successful games were still fresh in the minds of IOC members, who took comfort from Australia’s reputation for hosting global events.
The victory was 35 years in the making for Australian Olympic Committee president and IOC vice-president John Coates, who spearheaded Brisbane’s failed bid for the 1992 Games back in 1986.
Mr Coates told the members the Brisbane 2032 Olympics would be the “together games”, honouring the new Olympic motto of higher, stronger, faster – together.
He said: “Asking for this honour I assure you Brisbane and Australia understand the Olympic Games are not won, they are served, and the service to Olympic ideals is raising yourself to be the best you can be … that is as comfortable understanding of the people of Brisbane because it’s an authentic one’’.
Mr Coates stressed a Brisbane Games “will be an expression – unforgettable, enduring and revered Olympism – celebrated and served together”. Before a stirring pitch, Mr Morrison was introduced with Mitch Tambo’s version of John Farnham’s You’re the Voice and drew upon Australia’s history with the Olympic Movement, stressing the country’s multicultural links.
He drew upon two memories of the Sydney Olympic Games: Cathy Freeman’s 400m victory and Jane Saville’s disqualification in the 20km walk.