Take a lead

Eight years is still a decent runway into an Olympics and Paralympics - comparatively

THE references by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to talk doing the rounds of “cancelling the Games” should send shivers down everyone’s spines.

The south-east Queensland Olympics and Paralympics scheduled for 2032 were won early, providing an unprecedented 11year runway to maximise the transport, infrastructure and promotional benefits that come with successfully hosting the Greatest Show on Earth.

The Sydney Olympics were transformational for that city in a giant way on a tourism front. It put the city well and truly on the map as a destination to visit.

The fact infighting between our state and civic level leaders has dominated the Games preparation of late has not shown the southeast Queensland region in the greatest light. And risks wasting the long lead time into the event and all the benefits that should come with it. As it stands, the state and civic leadership including the Gold Coast - which has been somewhat isolated from the planning despite hosting up to nine sports and a satellite Athlete’s

Village - has been splintered.

The leadership needs to run a mile from cancellation talk and start banging their heads together to ensure the best way forward.

Victoria, Dan Andrews, Commonwealth Games 2026 and a $380 million cancellation bill ring any bells for anyone?

Lord knows what the bill would be for the region for breaking contract over an Olympics hosting deal. Not to mention reputational damage. The Games were won, in large part to the Gold Coast adding its weight and support to the bid and the vision at the time was for improvements to much-needed Think Big infrastructure and transport across the fastest growing region in the country.

The clock is ticking and the south-east now has eight years until the big event. But the planning has to put infrastructure legacy at the forefront and the various strands of leadership involved need to start working in unison to achieve common goals and outcomes for the entire southeast corner of the state.

And they would do well to remember eight years is still a longer runway to an Olympics than most host cities ever had.