Games throw up some interesting questions
COMMONWEALTH Games staff were briefed this week about what most us have either forgotten or don’t know about the Gold Coast.
They will be helping 3500 visiting media at the press centre and venues. What were our city’s seven sporting and natural wonders?
Photographer Richard “Tommy” Campion started at the very top, reminding all that the city boasts 70 kilometres of beaches, many of which have world surfing reserve status.
Our canal system is more than nine times the length of the waterways in Venice.
The Q1 is 322 metres high. Tommy told them how much we have grown since the first 10-storey highrise, Kinkabool, now heritage listed.
Who was the first born and bred Gold Coaster to win an Olympic medal? Surely it was Mike Wenden. No, Mike moved here from down south.
Greg Brough picked up bronze in the pool Mexico in 1968 in the 1500m. Debbie Bowman Sullivan was the first to win gold when she captained the Hockeyroos at Seoul in 1988.
Does anyone know what inspired design of the fountain at the Commonwealth Games Village? Tommy reminded them to visit Natural Bridge at Springbrook.
Staff saw a montage of the chairlift that was once part of Magic Mountain at Nobby Beach, and watched magician Arthur Coghlan and his daughter Helen doing a few tricks before everyone disappeared with big grins.
What about the Glitter Strip’s ultimate trivia questions? Here are seven likely conversation starters from athletes and fans as they make their way from the airports to our city.
(1) Who built this highway we’re travelling on every day?
(2) And this pub next to the M1 northbound – if our driver strays too far in the left lane we will end up in the bottlo. Who owned that?
(3) That koala that keeps turning up, why is it blue?
(4) Who built this Smith Street connection road to the village, helping us to get home?
(5) The cycling road races are on at Currumbin, I have to go through Tugun to get there. How do you pronounce that?
(6) Who are the meter maids? Will these girls be in the opening ceremony?
(7) Who started this gig? People are mentioning Games chairman Peter Beattie, the legendary athlete Ron Clarke and a former premier, Anna Bligh.
So here are the answers. (1) Former Premier Rob Borbidge. Please thank Rob for ticking off on eight lanes and not six.
(2) Russ Hinze, Minister for Main Roads and just about everything else in the Joh era.
(3) Borobi’s official biography says the Games mascot keeps falling off his surfboard.
(4) Probably the bloke in answer two. It was the fastest route from Oxenford to Parklands racing.
(5) It’s called Tu-gun. Don’t call it Tug-un, only the locals can get away with that.
(6) Second part first – unlikely. They used to put coins in meters but with car park technology now – look it’s very complicated, just don’t ask Chairman Beattie or he will lose that famous smile.
(7) Much debated but it was Paul Broughton. On August 19, 2007, after the last Titans home game at Carrara, he thought the stadium needed something to give it a new lease of life.
So readers, please add this Q and A to your Facebook and send us in your best trivia questions. It’s time for fun and games before the big party begins.