Queensland seeks federal decision on support for Olympic bid

PRESSURE is mounting on the federal government to stump up its financial commitment to the Queensland Olympic bid as Germany last night withdrew its interest in 2032 to concentrate on a 2036 bid.

A submission specifying venues, security and logistics, with an emphasis on the athletes, was presented to the IOC this week by the Australian Olympic Committee and the Queensland government’s 2032 Olympic bid task force.

It’s understood the Albion Park harness and dog track would be annexed to make way for the main stadium, while an area near Portside Hamilton is being earmarked for the athletes village.

Australia’s advancing bid came as North and South Korea announced it would like to enter the race for the 2032 Games.

It also came as a serious rival to Australia.

The withdrawal of Germany to concentrate on 2036 is significant because Germany was seen as a viable alternative, with IOC president Thomas Bach being German.

IOC officials are privately concerned at security issues that may come with a joint Korean bid.

The Queensland bid has entered into the crucial “targeted dialogue’’ stage with the IOC, meaning it has exclusive and sole access to Olympic powerbrokers and decision makers.

There is still confidence that Queensland will be announced as the Olympics 2032 bid winner just before the Tokyo Games begin on July 24.

A source close to the Queensland 2032 bid said the economic makeup of the bid was still being sorted and that no official commitment had been delivered from the commonwealth.

“All eyes are on the feds right now,’’ the source said. “The Olympic funding is one thing, but the commitment to big infrastructure requirements before 3032 are also crucial.

“With Scott Morrison very much behind the bid, and an election looming, and Queensland being very important, we don’t see it as a stumbling block.’’