In an effort to reduce the estimated $4.9 billion USD price tag of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia, the Gold Coast is advocating the move of several marquee sporting events to its turf.
As opposed to the Brisbane Arena housing a temporarily constructed pool at which the swimming, water polo finals and Paralympic swimming events would take place, Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate is suggesting swimming events happen at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Additionally, Tate is proposing the use of existing hotel infrastructure to host participants instead of building a new athletes’ village on the Gold Coast.
Speaking at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre this week, Tate said, “We estimated the roof for here, and 10,000 seating, you’re looking at about $150 million.
“A temporary pool arena [in Brisbane], you’re looking at $2.5 billion. Do the sums.” (Sydney Morning Herald)
Longtime Swimming Australia supported Gina Rinehart reportedly supports this proposal.
“Mrs. Rinehart has been known to publicly support the Mayor of the Gold Coast’s call for upgrading the Gold Coast pool venue that hosted the Commonwealth Games, which could then better service the swimmers for many years to come, rather than a temporary pool,” a spokesman for Rinehart said. (Sydney Morning Herald)
According to the original Brisbane 2032 master plan, six new venues are set to be developed in time to host competition events for Brisbane 2032. Construction of new venues is scheduled to commence in 2025 and all new venues are slated to be delivered at least 12 months ahead of the Games.
Competition venues will be hosted in the following locations:
- Brisbane—22 venues
- Gold Coast—6 venues
- Sunshine Coast—4 venues
- Regional Queensland—3 venues (Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba)
- Interstate—2 venues (Sydney, Melbourne)
The swimming venue has federal funding and as such has to be a legacy assest. Not an upgrade to an existing facility. Tom tate and his council are dreamin.
Would be cool if they built a roof for GCAC anyway but there’s no way they’re hosting Olympic swimming.
It’s not going to happen. Swimming is Australia’s best Olympic sport. Brisbane is not going allow the literal biggest draw card to be moved to another city.
As Troyy said, the arena is being built anyway. It’s only the cost of the pool that matters, so Tom Tate is being pretty shady with how he is framing it.
The $2.5 billion arena has been planned since long before the Olympics and needs to be built anyway so moving swimming to the Gold Coast would only save the cost of the temporary pools which will be less than the cost of building a roof at the the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.