A feasibility study commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) to assess South East Queensland’s (SEQ) ability to successfully host the 2032 Olympic Games has indicated the region has the potential to mount a competitive bid based on the use of existing and planned facilities to keep costs at a minimum.
Launched today in Brisbane, a feasibility study has shown that SEQ could host an Olympic Games relying on venues that are existing, planned for development or have been identified as community facilities needed to cater for the anticipated growth of the region.
South East Queensland already has 60 percent of the venues needed for the 2032 Olympic Games, with the potential for 30 percent more to be delivered as the region continues to grow. Where there is no community need for a venue, the study recommends that lower cost temporary venues should be utilised.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Brisbane Lord Mayor, Cr Graham Quirk, said the Olympic Movement was currently going through a period of reform and cost-cutting that could see SEQ reap the economic and social benefits of a Games without the expensive price tag.
“The Olympic Movement is in a period of unprecedented change, adopting more than 100 reforms aimed at cutting costs and reducing the complexity of the process for potential hosts. The IOC is now encouraging hosts to reduce venue sizes, rethink transport options and reuse existing infrastructure,” said Cr Quirk.
“It was the IOC’s cost cutting reforms that first attracted the SEQ Mayors to investigate this opportunity. We were keen to see whether SEQ could deliver a cost-effective plan to host the Olympic Games by reusing the region’s existing facilities, and in turn, creating a catalyst for infrastructure delivery and job creation.
“This study has shown that SEQ could mount a successful bid without the need to build venues just for an Olympic Games. In doing so, we would be able to keep costs to a minimum while maximising the potential benefits and legacies for the region.”
The 2032 SEQ Olympic and Paralympic Games Feasibility Study also provided a high-level cost for hosting the Games, citing a net operating cost of $900 million once IOC contributions and domestic revenue were considered.
When compared to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, which had a net operating cost of $1.2 billion, a cost effective SEQ Olympic Games presented a compelling proposal for the region given the widespread benefits, international exposure and lasting legacies it could deliver.
“With an estimated bottom line of $900 million, our early assessments indicate the Olympic and Paralympic Games are an affordable proposition for SEQ. While we encourage the Queensland Government to join us in undertaking further economic assessments, the initial findings are promising,” said Cr Quirk.
“While the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was a great demonstration of Queensland’s ability to deliver world class events, ticket sales for an SEQ Olympic Games would be at least five times greater and the value of the international exposure generated for our region would likely be in the multiple billions.”
The study also reaffirmed the Council of Mayors’ (SEQ) push for greater transport investment to support the anticipated population growth of the region, noting that if SEQ had a safe, reliable and efficient transport network than it would be fully capable of delivering a competitive Games bid.
“The Council of Mayors (SEQ) recently released the SEQ People Mass Movement Study which outlined the need for greater transport investment and the timely delivery of infrastructure to accommodate our growing region,” said Cr Quirk.
“It is essential for the region to have effective public transport and road networks in order to mount a competitive bid. If this were the case, public and active transport would be the primary mode of transport for spectators and the Games workforce.
“With an efficient and reliable transport network, the average athlete travel time to competition venues for an SEQ Olympic Games would be around 19 minutes based on the current master plan. This is on par with previous Games and ensures our regional approach would not detract from the competitiveness of a potential bid.
“The findings of this study are just the start of a conversation around whether SEQ should consider a bid for the Olympic Games, and we look forward to working with the State to investigate this opportunity. The SEQ Mayors are committed to this journey as long as it continues to be in the best interests of our region.”
The 2032 SEQ Olympic and Paralympic Games Feasibility Study was commissioned by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) and delivered by Lagardere Sports / EKS. Formed out of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, Lagardere Sports / EKS has been involved in a number of successful Olympic bids and supported almost every Olympic Games since Sydney.
The study recommends that a decision on whether to bid for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games should be confirmed prior to the Tokyo 2020 Games, with the host of the 2032 Games anticipated to be announced by the IOC in 2025.
The 2032 SEQ Olympic and Paralympic Games Feasibility Study is available at seqmayors.qld.gov.au.
2032 SEQ Olympic and Paralympic Games Feasibility Study
– Fast Facts –
- Delivering on a regional approach to the Games, the Indicative Master Plan outlines venues and major facilities across eight SEQ councils and delivering an average athlete travel time of 19 minutes.
- Sixty percent of proposed venues already exist in SEQ, 30 percent are planned or identified as a future community need (irrespective of a Games), and ten percent are proposed as temporary.
- While a site for the Olympic Stadium will require further analysis, the study has identified a future need for a smaller, rectangular stadium in Brisbane to supplement Suncorp Stadium.
- This would be built as a 25,000 – 30,000 capacity stadium, allowing for temporary adaptation to increase the seating capacity to 55,000 at Games time.
- Around 81,000 rooms would be required for an SEQ Games – IOC/Olympic Family (41,000), Workforce (15,000) and Visitors/Spectators (25,000).
- The net operating cost for an SEQ Olympic and Paralympic Games would be $900 million, this is compared to a net operating cost for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games of $1.2 billion.
- The operational budget for an SEQ Games would be approximately $5.3 billion, which is offset by IOC contributions ($1.7 billion) and domestic revenue ($2.7 billion), resulting in a net cost of $900 million.
- The economic benefits of an SEQ Games would be significant. For example, the NSW Government reported a $20 billion economic uplift due to the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Proposed dates for an SEQ 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are Friday 13 to Sunday 29 August (Olympic Games) and Paralympic Games (Tuesday 5 to Sunday 17 October).
