The Commonwealth Games could make a stunning return to the Gold Coast in three years, with the Mayor willing to put his hand up to host it again.
After only landing back in Australia from London overnight, Tom Tate called a snap press conference at Council Chambers on Thursday morning where he revealed the news.
Mayor Tom Tate declared he would love the city to host the sporting spectacle once again, but admits it would depend on funds from the Federal Government being reprovisioned from Victoria to the Gold Coast.
The announcement comes after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews sensationally pulled the pin on the event earlier this week due to what he described as a huge blowout in costs.
Mayor Tate said his phone has been running hot ever since, admitting he has already had conversations with Commonwealth Games officials.
“I also put in calls to representatives of the Queensland 2032 Olympics as well, just to make sure that this doesn’t interfere with their journey,” he said.
“All I ask is this… have an open mind and in the next couple of weeks, let’s have a meeting, table all the concerns, all the positives.”
The Mayor said it would come down to the reprovision of federal funding, but is confident the Gold Coast could pull it off.
“I feel that we can have it done, but I’m not arrogant to say game, set, match,” the Mayor added.
“There’s a lot of things to do, but in that timeline, I know we can deliver and deliver well for the Gold Coast otherwise I wouldn’t do it.
“I love my city and we wouldn’t put up our hand and make a failure out of it”.
Mayor Tate said he believes the Gold Coast could turn the Victorian Premier’s “lemon” into “lemonade”, with the potential for the city’s hotels to also benefit.
“I’ve got so many hotels that would put up their hand to transform into Games hotels,” the Mayor said in response to the Gold Coast no longer having an Athletes village.
“Just like the Sydney Olympics in 2000, instead of building Athletes’ villages, they would be housed in hotels that would also make a few quid out of it”.
More to come.
