Queensland's Games bid gets tourism tick

Talking points

• The Games could create 129,000 jobs in tourism, hospitality and construction.
• A new athletics venue could be built at the Albion Park Raceway.
• The Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre is another possible athletics venue.
• The IOCwould contribute $1.8 billion to a Queensland Olympic Games.
• A preliminary study estimated staging event would cost $5.3 billion.

Bidding for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics gives Queensland "a shared focus", according to the state's tourism sector, which on Monday backed the bid.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind was among a chorus of industry leaders welcoming Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's decision for Queensland to bid to host the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

"I think we are in a very good position to line up our community's aspiration for infrastructure that can provide for a continued good lifestyle," he said.

Mr Gschwind said Queensland, and the state's south-east in particular, was a fast-growing region.

"I think the Olympics will give us a shared focus to evolve our state and our region in a direction that is desirable," he said.

"It is not throwing us off track. In fact I think it can help put us us on the right track for the future I think with the focus of hosting the world here."

South-east Queensland has an in-principle agreement with the federal government for a 20-year South East Queensland City Deal to deliver a range of infrastructure projects.

Queensland provided new facilities for Gold Coast's 2018 Commonwealth Games and has almost completed a new stadium in Townsville with financial assistance from the federal government.

Ms Palaszczuk said she had the support of prime minister Scott Morrison and federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese for Queensland to to bid as Games host.

The formal bid will now be put together over the next 12 months.

Australian retailers immediately backed the bid saying it could create 129,000 new jobs in tourism, hospitality and in construction.

National Retailers Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said the Games would provide a massive boost to the state’s business sector in the lead-up and during the event.

"If successful, we will host around 11,000 athletes from 206 countries. This will mean a massive injection into the economy and the retail sector," Ms Lamb said.

"Economic analysis shows the majority of the 129,000 new jobs to flow from the Games would be in the retail and hospitality sectors, along with construction.

"International tourists are predicted to spend around $10 billion during the Games in areas such the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, the Whitsundays, far north Queensland and the Outback.

Queensland opposition leader Deb Frecklington said she had long supported Queenlsand bidding for the Olympics, an issue she made clear in her budget reply speech in June.

"The Olympics will be great for our state," Ms Frecklington said.

"My only concern is of course is whether the Queensland government has the ability to deliver the infrastructure required."

Gold and Sunshine coast mayors Tom Tate and Mark Jamieson both welcomed the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics push.

Cr Tate said the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast proved Queensland could host the Games.

"I think we’re now more than capable of delivering the world’s biggest multi-sport event," Cr Tate said.

Cr Jamieson welcomed the firm commitment by the Queensland government.

"The only way a potential Olympic and Paralympic Games bid can be successful is if the three tiers of government are locked in with the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Paralympic Committee as a collaborative partnership," Cr Jamieson said.

On Wednesday, a formal announcement will be made by the Olympic Candidature Leadership Group, with representatives from all three levels of government, that Queensland will bid to host the Games.