Mayor lifts lid on Olympics bid

Council to attempt to secure 2032 events for Garden City

TOOWOOMBA Mayor Paul Antonio has let slip which sport the council will be pushing to host, if Brisbane is picked to hold the 2032 Olympic Games.

Cr Antonio’s loose-lipped comments on Thursday came a day after Toowoomba Regional Council agreed behind closed doors to partner with the State Government on the event.

The resolution, which was discussed in confidential of the council on Wednesday at the request of the State Government, serves as an official commitment to help host the games.

“Council is a relevant stakeholder because certain venues and services within council’s local government area may be required for the delivery of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad,” the motion said.

“The State of Queensland has prepared a delivery partner guarantee deed to formalise, until more comprehensive future arrangements are agreed, council’s commitment to providing certain services, venues and/or funding contributions for the Games.

“Council resolves to approve council executing the delivery partner guarantee deed (DPGD) and any associated documents, and to authorise the chief executive officer to negotiate, execute and manage the DPGD and any associated documents on council’s behalf.”

During a press conference urging people to go to this year’s Toowoomba Royal Show, Cr Antonio said it was hoped the showgrounds could host equestrian events.

“There’s tremendous potential, and there could be an Olympic event at the showgrounds in Toowoomba in 2032,” he said.

“We are going to attempt to get events to Toowoomba.

“Council made a decision yesterday to support the bid for the Olympic Games in southeast Queensland, and just look at the facilities they’ve got there in terms of equestrian, and why wouldn’t we attempt to do that?

“There is a little bit more (there) that I shouldn’t have told you, but I did.”