Qld courts world of elite sport

QUEENSLAND has been pitched as Australia’s booming events capital to the world’s biggest sporting organisations at the international SportAccord summit on the Gold Coast.

State Tourism Minister Kate Jones yesterday addressed hundreds of delegates from organisations including the International Olympic Committee and governing bodies for soccer, tennis, rugby union and dozens of other sports, telling them Queensland was open for business.

SportAccord is an annual conference where deals are wheeled and sealed for hosting rights to some of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last night met IOC President Thomas Bach as momentum builds for an Olympic bid, while the Gold Coast turned on perfect weather for about 1500 delegates.

Ms Jones said the Commonwealth Games had shown that Queensland could deliver world-class events and the state was ready for more.

“We want to send a clear message to the global market that we really want to grow our events calendar,” she said.

“We have huge crowds, it talks to our lifestyle, and it has real and enduring social and economic benefit.

“Since the Commonwealth Games, our 18 new venues have delivered an additional $100 million worth of new major and international sporting events to Queensland.”

Ms Jones said the Gold Coast was the perfect choice for international events.

“This is the economic powerhouse of the national economy right now,” she said.

“The Gold Coast is Australia’s fastest-growing city.”

“We have invested heavily in infrastructure and made a strong multi-billion-dollar downpayment so we can deliver world-class events.”