OPENING WARFARE
Games’ big night marred by political bun fight
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has been sensationally snubbed from speaking at the opening ceremony — sparking an ugly fallout involving organising committee chair Peter Beattie, government figures and the Games governing body. The simmering feud has exploded six days before the showpiece.
QUEENSLAND Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been sensationally blocked from speaking at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, sparking a bitter feud six days out from the showpiece.
The decision is ultimately made by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). However, the Bulletin can reveal the stoush has sparked anger in senior State Government ranks.
Games organising committee (GOLDOC) chairman Peter Beattie will have a speaking role alongside the CGF’s Scottish president Louise Martin at next Wednesday’s kickoff, to be attended by Prince Charles.
Mr Beattie, a Sydney-born former Queensland Premier, said it was the CGF’s decision not to give Ms Palaszczuk a speaking role at the opening ceremony, despite his repeated lobbying of the Games governing body to do so.
It is understood the CGF executive will meet today to discuss a possible speaking role for Ms Palaszczuk at the Games closing ceremony alongside Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate as part of the handover to Birmingham.
However, sources last night indicated a closing ceremony gig for the Premier would be unsatisfactory, and she had been under the impression as late as February that she would speaking at the opening.
One stunned high-level Games source close to the bun fight said: “How can they think it is OK to have a welcoming ceremony to Queensland with not one Queenslander on stage?”
Asked yesterday about claims she had requested a speaking role at the opening ceremony and whether she believed she deserved one, Ms Palaszczuk said: “This is the Gold Coast and Queensland’s time to shine and as Premier of the host state, if the situation had been different, of course I would have loved to have given a very warm Queenslander welcome at the opening ceremony.”
Mr Beattie said there is “no ego in this for me, my only interest is seeing the Games be a success”.
Mr Beattie said the host city agreement signed by Queensland’s then-Labor Premier Anna Bligh in November 2011 allowed the CGF final say on opening and closing ceremony arrangements.
“I’ve made representations the Premier should speak,” Mr Beattie said. “That was my recommendation but the CGF has made a decision she should not.
“I respect their decision. I’ve offered to give up my spot to the Premier on a number of occasions but that’s entirely a matter for the CGF. Nothing to do with me.”
The Bulletin has been told the CGF is “gun shy” about any risk of politicisation after Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond – a month out from the Glasgow Games in 2014 – branded it “Freedom city” in a push for independence.
A CGF statement to the Bulletin yesterday said: “(CGF) has an established protocol for the Gold Coast 2018 opening ceremony, which consists of six representatives: the CGF President (Louise Martin); the Gold Coast Organising Committee (GOLDOC) Chair (Peter Beattie); an athlete (taking the Athlete’s Oath); a coach (taking the Coach’s Oath); a Technical Official (taking the Technical Official’s Oath); and the Head of the Commonwealth (the Queen) or her representative.
“Similarly, for the closing ceremony, the CGF has an established protocol which includes a representative of the current Games host city (Gold Coast) and of the future Games host city (Birmingham), who take part in a flag handover sequence. As the CGF has stated at every Gold Coast 2018 Coordination Commission visit, it is critical that these Games remain unpoliticised; this is something for which we have been greatly appreciative of the Games delivery partners.”
Games Minister Kate Jones referred any comment to the Premier’s office.