Both Rowing Australia and Hockey Queensland are making an 11th hour plea to the State Government for Olympic events to be hosted on the Gold Coast.
It comes amid reports the city is set to miss out on both sports for the 2032 Games, despite desperate calls for them to be staged on the glitter strip.
Bosses of the national rowing body have written a letter to the Government’s 100-day Games review asking for Hinze Dam to be considered after it was revealed the event is likely to be held in the croc-infested Fitzroy River in Rockhampton.
Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia bosses are also not happy, with Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium expected to be unveiled as the chosen venue instead of the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, which successfully hosted the sport during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“The Gold Coast Hockey Centre is the right choice as the 2032 venue,” Hockey Queensland CEO Alison Lyons said.
“It’s a choice that meets all of the criteria set out in the Terms of Reference for the 100-day Review and aligns with Hockey’s diligent, evidence-based analysis that has prioritised cost-effective, infrastructure-driven solutions.
“Any decision in favour of Ballymore, a site that is fundamentally unsuitable for hockey, would represent an unjustifiable waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Ms Lyons said it’s mind-baffling any other venue would even be considered.
“The Gold Coast Hockey Centre successfully hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games and requires only minor upgrades to be Olympic-ready,” she said.
“It is a fiscally responsible choice that avoids unnecessary spending on temporary infrastructure.
Hockey Queensland said Ballymore Stadium would be nothing but an “expensive mistake”.
“If Ballymore were a genuine and sensible option, then investors would have supported its redevelopment decades ago,” Ms Lyons said.
“But they haven’t. No-one wants to invest in a mud pit with atrocious transport connectivity where even local sporting clubs cannot get insurance due to the flood risk.
“This isn’t about sport versus sport – it’s simply about smart decision-making”.
The Games venues plan will be presented to the LNP frontbench on Monday to receive cabinet approval before being unveiled to Queenslanders on Tuesday.
