A plan by the SEQ Mayors to use an Olympic and Paralympic Games as a catalyst for critical transport investment in South East Queensland moves a step closer to reality this weekend as an Australian delegation jets off to Olympic headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) started the investigation into a South East Queensland 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games back in March 2015. The SEQ Mayors’ proposal has since secured the backing of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and garnered interest from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
An Australian delegation led by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and including Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates AM, Council of Mayors (SEQ) representative and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson, and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mr Ted O’Brien MP, Member for Fairfax will depart tomorrow for meetings with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland and to inspect the Games preparations for 2024 in Paris.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) representative and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said he was honoured to represent South East Queensland as part of the Australian delegation, and was keen for the delegation to understand more about the ongoing reforms and cost cutting being driven by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“The Council of Mayors (SEQ) has been working towards a South East Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games for four and a half years. Our focus has always been on an event of this nature being a catalyst for the delivery of the critical transport and digital infrastructure the region needs to ensure its productivity and liveability,” Cr Jamieson said.
“We have always believed a Games could be an amazing opportunity for our region, Queensland and the nation.
“To be heading to Lausanne, home of the modern Olympic Movement, with representatives from the Commonwealth and State governments is a positive step forward for the work of the SEQ Mayors and our push for a South East Queensland Games.
“Having the opportunity to hear directly from IOC President Thomas Bach about the historic and revolutionary changes being undertaken is an incredible boost to our investigations.
“It’s also a prime opportunity to show the IOC the collaboration and partnership that exists across the three tiers of government and the private sector to deliver a successful 2032 Games in South East Queensland.
“My previous meetings with IOC President Thomas Bach have been positive to-date and he has always demonstrated a keen interest in how we have been progressing.
“The IOC recognises that a South East Queensland Games is compact enough to deliver an outstanding athlete experience, while taking advantage of the many venues that already exist across the region.
“The IOC want to see future Games that deliver on its recent reforms and changes, while maintaining the Olympic experience for its athletes. The SEQ Mayors think that our proposal for a South East Queensland Games can do just that,” Cr Jamieson said.
Track the Australian delegation’s journey in Switzerland and Paris on Twitter at @seqmayors.
