The prospect of an Olympics and Paralympic Games in Brisbane in 2032 will provide a focus for Australian sport for the next decade, says Phillips.
Young athletes around Australia will have an extra spring in their step with news that Brisbane has been identified as the “preferred host” of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips says news that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has conferred “preferred host” status to the Brisbane candidature will provide “a focus for Australian sport for the next decade.”
“The IOC decision continues to show the track record Australia has in hosting major events. We provide a safe set of hands at the wheel, as was demonstrated in Brisbane in 1982, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and more recently the Melbourne 2006 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which benefited significantly from the hosting experience from Sydney,” Phillips said.
“The stunning success of the Gold Coast Games demonstrates how the benefits of hosting a major multi-sport Games can have lasting benefits for the community in terms of new facilities and infrastructure that live on well beyond the Games themselves.”
Phillips, who was Director of Sport at the Australian Olympic Committee in 2000, says the entire period from the moment Australia and Sydney were announced as host in 1993, to the Games themselves, was a golden period for Australian sport.
“The lead into the Sydney 2000 highlighted all that can be achieved by Australian sport when working together,” Phillips said.
“The Australian sport system came together, with the significant help of Governments all around Australia, to deliver a great Games.”
We welcome this morning's announcement that the IOC have given the Brisbane candidature 'preferred host status' for the 2032 Olympic Games. 👉 https://t.co/KeFv23ljNh pic.twitter.com/jY7948PtYe
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) February 24, 2021
A Paralympic and Olympic Games in Queensland is one step closer after the International Olympic Committee confirmed it will move into “Targeted Dialogue” with the 2032 Queensland candidature.
Ream more: https://t.co/8iotTuq15w pic.twitter.com/QsmwRP8ewJ
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) February 24, 2021
Recent Federal government funding announcements which provide certainty for Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports and athletes through to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games secured high performance programs and Phillips believes having a landmark focus in 2032 allows for even great certainty.
“A Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games allows sports to look beyond the pandemic, to Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles, and of course Birmingham in 2022 and the 2026 and 2030 Commonwealth Games,’ Phillips said.
“We will continue to work closely with the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport to achieve our common objectives for Australian sport.
“And of course, we would like to host another home Commonwealth Games in 2026 as we all benefit when the green and gold is on show at home.
“A Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will put a spring in everyone’s step…. and what a perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brisbane Commonwealth Games.”
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