Brisbane joins the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games team

With just under two years to go until the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018), Brisbane residents are being encouraged to fly the Games flag and get behind what will be the biggest sporting event in Australia this decade.

Minister for the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe today presented Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk with the official event city flag, welcoming Brisbane to the GC2018 team as host of the track cycling and shooting events.

“All the Commonwealth Games sporting action and celebrations from the event cities will be beamed to a massive worldwide audience of more than 1.5 billion people,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“As an official event city for track cycling and shooting the international spotlight will be on Brisbane showcasing our state of the art sporting venues and tourist attractions.

“The new $59 million Queensland State Velodrome is on track for completion mid-year, while in preparation for the Games’ shooting events, the Belmont Shooting Centre will undergo a $16.5 million upgrade later this year.”

Minister Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government was also investing in the rail network to ensure Brisbane residents and visitors can commute to the Gold Coast to watch Games events.

“Last month construction began on the Queensland Government-funded $163 million Coomera to Helensvale rail duplication which will increase capacity and allow us to run more services come Games time,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“With Stage Two of Gold Coast Light Rail on track we’re also completing the missing public transport link between the two event cities meaning passengers will be able to catch public transport from Brisbane right into the heart of the Gold Coast.

“The Stage 2 extension will mean that during the Games, 3,000 people an hour will be able to travel from Helensvale to Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, which means thousands of Brisbane residents and visitors each day will be able to access all the action and excitement of the Games.”

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the South East Queensland region would set an international example and strongly embrace the spirit of the Commonwealth Games in the lead up to the event in 2018.

“Brisbane is a great place to live, work and play and our city looks forward to welcoming many thousands of guests during the 2018 Commonwealth Games and showing the world how proud we are of our great city and the South East Queensland region,” Mr Quirk said.

“The Commonwealth Games cycling and shooting events will be held at Chandler and Belmont and I invite residents, visitors and athletes to embrace the games experience and showcase Brisbane’s ability to stage major sporting and cultural events.”

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will run from 4 - 15 April 2018.

For further information on the GC2018 visit http://aheadofthegames.embracing2018.com/

Media contact: Jessica Hill 0475 950 772 (Hinchliffe) Emily McCowat 0409 876 317 (Lord Mayor)