WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE

THANK heavens for the army of Commonwealth Games volunteers and the Gold Coast public.

Apart from the sterling competition unfolding in sporting arenas across the city, the smiling volunteers and the forgiving public are the best things going for our Games at the moment.

Security nazis, protocol-obsessed planners, transport tsars and whingeing umbrage-takers from the protest industry have been doing their best to ruin the fun.

And the party-poopers have gone very close to succeeding.

We’ve seen both ends of the spectrum of a transport debacle – from furious crowds stranded before and after the Opening Ceremony, forced to wait while roads were shut to allow dignitaries to take their time in leaving the stadium, through to empty streets caused by dire warnings of gridlock and official directives to leave cars at home, shut businesses and go on holidays.

We’ve tolerated the antics of protesters whose bleatings threaten to ruin the enormous and positive contribution of the local Yugambeh people. We’ve watched in stunned amazement as poor preparation has upset security arrangements.

And we can only shake our heads at how the negativity has led to traders now asking where all the people have gone, with licensees at clubs and bars sitting on mountains of stock brought in for crowds that have yet to eventuate.

An SOS has gone out, appealing for Brisbane residents frightened off by bleak predictions to ride to the rescue. We’re sure southeast Queensland will wake up to the pleasant reality that things are sweet and they should come and participate.

But what are the State Government, GOLDOC, the council and the tourism industry doing to salvage the financial success of the Games for the local economy?

Instead of sitting on their hands, they have to get the message out. Join us!