Games ‘will leave long-term legacy for all of Australian sport’

AUSTRALIAN Sports Commission chairman John Wylie says the Commonwealth Games will deliver a legacy not just for the Gold Coast but all of Australian sport.

Wylie and the ASC board were on the Gold Coast yesterday to tour Games venues ahead of April’s event with GOLDOC members including chairman Peter Beattie.

Wylie said the progress was “enormously impressive”.

“The facilities, the preparations that have been made are really fantastic,” Wylie said.

“This will be a great longterm legacy for Australian sport. (The Games) will be fantastic for the Gold Coast, they’ll be fantastic for sport in Australia and they’ll leave a great long-term legacy – a 30 to 50-year legacy for sport here in southeast Queensland.”

Beattie said the Games would stand almost as a test case for Australia’s ability to host the event in the future.

“The reality is for Australia to host Commonwealth Games in the future, the Gold Coast Games have to be a success,” Beattie said. “This is really a big test. In a way, each one of these events, whenever they’re held, has got to prove that they’re worthy of being held again. “We are determined to prove it. That’s why we’re in a partnership with the Sports Commission and we’re delighted (Wylie) brought his here.”

GOLDOC chief executive Mark Peters said along with the community, health and infrastructure benefits, the Games would provide Australia’s athletes with the perfect stepping stone to success.

“We need major events for our young athletes to step out on the international stage beA John board fore they go to the Olympics which is the pinnacle of sport,” Peters said.

The Going for Gold Legacy Symposium is being hosted by News Corp Australia, Gold Coast Bulletin and Sky News Australia on October 31 at the Marriott Resort Surfers Paradise. It is a three-hour breakfast brunch event, with tickets $80 per person or $720 per table of 10. For information go to: goldcoastbulletin.com.au/goingforgold