Meeting to shine light on our part in Queensland Games bid Olympics role revealed
HOW southeast Queensland’s bid for the 2032 Olympic Games will benefit the Townsville region is likely to be revealed today when city leaders meet with the driving forces of the initiative.
Townsville City Council Mayor Jenny Hill and Townsville Enterprise chief executive Patricia O’callaghan are part of a local contingent meeting with the Southeast Queensland Council of Mayors to discuss the benefits of an Olympic Games bid to regional Queensland.
Recent changes to how Olympic Games are hosted mean multiple cities and regions are now able to host the event.
A Council of Mayors (SEQ) spokesman said the visit to the North was an opportunity to share the findings of its work and hear from business and community leaders about a potential Olympic Games.
“We’re in Townsville to share, listen and answer questions about what a potential Olympic Games bid might mean for Townsville,” the spokesman said.
“We hope it is the start of a long and collaborative conversation.”
Cr Hill said she would be keeping an open mind at the meeting and wanted to hear what was on offer.
“At this stage, I’m just going to listen and see what the bid is all about,” she said.
Townsville played a role in the Commonwealth Games last year, hosting 12 preliminary round basketball games and two qualifying finals of men’s and women’s games at Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said any bid would need to include areas like Cairns, Townsville and the Whitsundays, which she has flagged for sailing.
“Cairns and Townsville were utilised during the Commonwealth Games and it was very successful,” she said last month. Ms O’callaghan said the group looked forward to exploring what opportunities Townsville could be part of.
“This meeting will be held to discuss the approach of the bid and what a Queensland proposal could mean for Townsville and North Queensland,” she said.
“We have always been clear that the proposal needs to be a genuine Queensland bid and the regions need to have a genuine place.”