Queensland Premier Steven Miles rejected on Tuesday, March 19, the recommendation to build a new $3.4 billion, 55,000-seat venue for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane’s inner-north at Victoria Park.
Mr Miles also rejected the proposal for knocking down and rebuilding the Gabba. The QLD Premier instead opted for a cheaper option, which includes renovating the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre for $1.6 billion.
He also revealed his aims of holding the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies at Lang Park.
The rejections resulted in criticism from Australians nationwide, however, the President of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics organising committee, Andrew Liveris, has defended the political gymnastics on stadium infrastructure as “very normal.”
But Mr Liveris said the games should “deliver long term sporting venues and infrastructure to support the fastest growing region in Australia.”
“Recommendations from it are being assessed for their appropriateness and decisions will be made with full consultation of our Organising Committee and the IOC and AOC and provide a path forward for the Australian and Queensland governments to decide on,” he said.
He also responded to criticism received for the rejections of the $3.4 billion facility, and the knock down and re-build of the Gabba.
“There will be lots of opinions, and there’ll be natural ebb and flow in sentiment,” he said.
Liveris outlined that using these venues to attract major events should be part of the Olympic legacy, however it seemed less likely due to the QLD Premier’s new plan to increase the seating at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre for the Olympic Games only.
“New venues have to be accepted by the population as legacies and as venues that make sense for legacy utilisation,” Liveris said.
Source: The Advertiser.
