The Olympics will return to Australia for a third time with Brisbane formally awarded hosting rights for the 2032 Games after a vote of International Olympic Committee, IOC member nations in Tokyo.
Wednesday’s decision was a foregone conclusion given Brisbane was the only bid city still in the running and it was firmly endorsed by the IOC.
Celebratory fireworks lit up Brisbane’s night sky as the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, and the Australian delegation – who had travelled to Tokyo to make their case in person – signed contracts and took photos in Japan.
The Australian Olympic Committee president and IOC vice-president John Coates said, “This is a very proud day for Australia, make no mistake”.
“I thank the IOC members for their confidence. Brisbane 2032 is genuinely committed to serving the ideals of the Olympic movement. The Olympic Games in Brisbane will be in the most diligent, grateful and enthusiastic hands. I make this commitment to the athletes of the world – we will provide you with an unforgettable experience.”
The bid team, led by Palaszczuk, the federal sports minister, Richard Colbeck, and the Brisbane lord mayor, Adrian Schrinner, made presentations to the IOC before committee members questioned them on the sustainability of the Games.
The 2032 Olympics, the third to be hosted in Australia after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000, is estimated to cost $5bn.
The majority of this is expected to be recouped through ticket revenue, domestic sponsorship and broadcast rights.
Brisbane will also host the Paralympics, the second time Australia has done so – the first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960. Culled from The Guardian