REAPING OLYMPIC BENEFITS
New report identifies Games opportunities
THE long-awaited report into Toowoomba’s Olympic opportunities will be released today.
Prepared by the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise and presented to Toowoomba Regional Council earlier this year, the report provides an overview of what the 2032 Brisbane Games could bring to the region.
With both mayor Paul Antonio and TSBE CEO Ali Davenport (right) lobbying the state government for Toowoomba’s involvement in the Games, a spokesperson for the Premier’s office said the city was scheduled to host just one event at this stage of Olympic planning.
TOOWOOMBA powerbrokers remain confident the region will reap some benefits from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, despite the state government all but excluding the Garden City from hosting an event.
Toowoomba Regional Council will today release the long-awaited report by the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise into the region’s Olympic opportunities, with both Mayor Paul Antonio and TSBE CEO Ali Davenport upbeat on Toowoomba’s prospects of capitalising on opportunities presented by the games.
“I think we need to maximise the long-term benefits that can arise from the buildup, during and post Olympic periods,” Mr Antonio said.
“There will be opportunities not just in sporting but also tourism and the very recognition of Toowoomba as being an ideal place to live, work and play.
“This is a very real opportunity for Toowoomba and the broader region.”
While Mr Antonio said he would love to see a gold medal event held in Toowoomba, at this stage Olympic organisers had slated the city to just host football preliminaries.
“The Brisbane 2032 Master Plan highlights Toowoomba Sports Ground as one of the eight existing venues that will be upgraded prior to Brisbane 2032 and will be used as a regional competition venue,” a spokesperson from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office confirmed to The Chronicle.
“The Toowoomba Sports Ground will be upgraded to have a spectator seating capacity of 15,000 during the Games with 10,000 of these seats provided as a temporary overlay.
“This upgrade will create exciting sport and community legacy for regional Queensland ensuring its facilities meet the needs of the growing Darling Downs community ahead of hosting the preliminary football events for Brisbane 2032.”
The spokesperson said the selection of sports, locations and venues had been agreed as part of the Future Host Contract, and any change to the Master Plan would require “consideration and agreement” with Olympic partners, the International Federation, Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee.
Mr Antonio said he had been in discussions with Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe regarding a permanent upgrade to Toowoomba Sports Ground.
Ms Davenport said TSBE would engage the state government and TRC on sport infrastructure upgrades as well as national sporting bodies not on the 2032 games schedule but with aspirations to be included to the Olympics in the next 10 years.