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Queensland Made Games: Palaszczuk vows to share love with the regions

After vowing to build a $1 billion stadium to replace The Gabba, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has promised to share the Olympic love with the regions.

Apr 21, 2021, updated Apr 21, 2021
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2019. Photo: IOC.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2019. Photo: IOC.

Palaszczuk has sought to put pressure on the Morrison Government to agree to a 50/50 funding deal for the 2032 Olympic bid, to finally secure the event for Queensland.

But there has been a mixed public response to the unexpected announcement of a complete rebuild for The Gabba, at a time when the International Olympic Committee promotes the use of existing venues.

In parliament today, the Premier was quick to reiterate the potential benefits for the regions.

“There are two things to remember about our bid to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: It’s not just about those few weeks of competition and it’s not just about the south-east corner of the state,” Palaszczuk said.

Palaszczuk forecast a $20 billion tourism boom, half benefitting the regions, where local companies could also bid to build, supply and service the event.

“We want these games to be Queensland Made,” Palaszczuk said.

“Hosting the Olympics presents an enormous economic opportunity. But opportunities do not walk up and present themselves, we have to make our own luck.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has yet to commit the required funding for the games bid, but Palaszczuk was unapologetic for having upped the ante this week.

“You don’t get a medal just for being in the competition,” Palaszczuk said.

“But we’ll never get anything unless we get in the race.”

Federal Sport Minister Richard Colbeck suggested a new stadium at The Gabba was different to the Queensland Government’s previous plan to build a new stadium elsewhere.

“We look forward to seeing any detail of this redevelopment following Monday’s decision,” Colbeck said in a statement.

“Any commitment of Commonwealth funding support for the Games will need to be considered through Commonwealth Budget processes.”

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