Four years until Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

Friday 4 April 2014 marks four years until the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games™, with planning well underway to deliver the best Commonwealth Games ever, on-time and on-budget.

Premier Campbell Newman said the Queensland Government and Commonwealth Games partners had been working diligently to deliver the biggest sports event ever held on the Gold Coast and Australia’s largest sporting event of the decade.

“The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will generate up to 30,000 full-time equivalent jobs and contribute $2 billion to the economy,” Mr Newman said.

“Our aim is to deliver the best Commonwealth Games ever and preparations are on-track to deliver world-class facilities for competing athletes.

“The completion of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre has been brought forward to host the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in August, and last week we revealed the landmark design for the Commonwealth Games Village.

“This new and upgraded infrastructure will provide long-lasting benefits to the community.”

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey said the four years milestone was an important step in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games™ journey.

“The Commonwealth Games is certainly front-of-mind for many Queenslanders, with the final trials underway to select the team representing Australia in the Glasgow Games later this year,” Ms Stuckey said.

“Following the Closing Ceremony in Glasgow and the official flag handover the Games becomes ours and we are certainly well and truly on track to deliver a great event.

“The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the fifth time the Commonwealth Games has been held in Australia and the first time it has been staged in a regional city.

“It will be the biggest event in Australia for at least a decade and a landmark event that will instil a powerful sense of community pride and ownership through the Gold Coast and Queensland.”

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[ENDS] 4 April 2014                                           

Media Contact: Natalie Wynne 0439 291 268