Angie Rafael of Nca Newswire and Shane Bugden of Daily Mail Australia
00:58 March 20, 2024, updated 01:21 March 20, 2024
- Kate Campbell and Phil Gould join angry stars
- Queensland government comes under fire over stadium decision
- Brisbane could become the smallest tournament venue since 1928
The Queensland Government's plan to spend billions of dollars to temporarily renovate the dilapidated Queensland Sport and Athletics Center in the run-up to the Olympics has sparked a furious backlash.
Queensland Premier Stephen Miles on Monday warned the government would ignore the advice of an independent review panel that recommended building a $3.4 billion, 55,000-seat venue at Victoria Park in Brisbane's inner north. Admitted.
Instead, the government will renovate Suncorp Stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies and the 49-year-old Queensland Sport and Athletics Center (QSAC) for the athletics competitions.
This will make the venue the smallest venue used for the Games since the 1928 Olympics.
This comes as the Queensland Government completely denies bombshell reports investigating Brisbane's dumping of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Rugby league broadcaster Phil Gould led the charge, writing: “Oh please…the Olympics…our country will be showcased to the world…build it big and make it special.”
Four-time Olympic swimming champion Kate Campbell also appeared on the Today show on Wednesday and slammed the situation.
“We're wasting a really great opportunity with all this bickering and short-term vision from a government looking for ways to keep jobs, as opposed to what's really good for south-east Queensland in the future. 'I think so,' she said.
“Taylor Swift has been told no, she won't come to Queensland because there aren't enough stadiums to host her, and Coldplay has more venues than south-east Queensland. I'm supposed to go to Perth, where there are a lot of people, but that's not enough.'
Tennis star John Millman also expressed shock at the plan, writing: “But are we going to spend billions on old chairs and temporary seats?”
Queensland athletics legend Laelaine Boyle, who won three Olympic silver medals and multiple Commonwealth Games gold medals, said the use of the old stadium, once known as QEII, meant that “cheap skates were running the Olympics. “It appears that there is a possibility that
Radio presenter Shane McInnes agreed: “As it stands, these are the next three venues to host athletics at the Olympics.” 2024 Paris: Stade de France, 2028 Los Angeles: Los Angeles Coliseum, 2032 Brisbane: Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre. Two are world-class venues. One is a joke.embarrassing [Stephen Miles]?'
Sports journalist Mark Gottlieb suggested the Brisbane Olympics should be held in Sydney instead, saying there was “no need to spend a penny”. “A perfect Olympics for the Queensland Government,” he wrote sarcastically.
Other Australians agreed, saying, “The Olympics are for world cities that have grown significantly.'' That would never suit Brisbane, but the Queensland Government has shown why. ”
“Certainly the I.O.C. [International Olympic Committee] Brisbane must be stripped of the 2032 Olympics. You won’t get anything close to what was promised,” another commenter wrote.
Another sports fan said: “Australia will be embarrassed internationally.”
The latest developments come after the government canceled a $2.7 billion demolition and reconstruction plan for the Gabba.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that advice received by the government suggested it would incur at least $500 million in compensation and other costs if it declined to go ahead with the event.
It would also have meant the federal government would withdraw $3 billion in funding to the state.
The state government ultimately decided to proceed because it was better for taxpayers and Queensland's reputation than canceling, the broadcaster reported.
However, a government spokesperson dismissed this report.
“The government has never sought advice on canceling the Olympics,” she said.
“We have always said Queensland would put on a great Games and the Government never intended to cancel the Games.
“We chose not to spend $3.4 billion on a new stadium.”
The Courier Mail reported that the Prime Minister's Office does not know whether the advice was sorted by government departments or bureaucrats, but is working to find out.
Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Stephen Miles decided to ignore an independent Olympic review and go ahead with a $1.6 billion refurbishment of the Queensland Sports and Athletics Center, as proposed by International Olympic Committee member John Coates. revealed.
Mr Miles told parliament: “I support and support the suggestion that John Coates made in the submissions he submitted to the inquiry that you are right.”
“That's because if I speak as a representative of the IOC, I can clarify what the requirements are for hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“He wanted to make it clear that there was no need to build a new stadium at a cost of $3.4 billion and that games could be held in existing stadiums.”
But Mr Coates told the Courier-Mail he was only “reminding” him of his obligations to the IOC.
“I'm Australia's IOC member and it's my duty to remind them of the rationale behind their Olympic bid,” he said.
“If we don't honor that deal, there will be a lot of countries that will say why did you give it to Brisbane when you don't have a venue lined up?”
“Qatar is saying why don't you give us a crack…We have all the venues…The Germans thought they were pre-empted.”
“The IOC went ahead and elevated us based on existing or planned venue requirements.”
