BRISBANE UP AND RUNNING FOR 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Published Thursday, 30 November, 2006 at 03:39 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie called on Queenslanders to get behind Brisbane’s bid to host the 2011 World Championships in Athletics when he launched the bid at Parliament House today.
Mr Beattie said Brisbane was ready to take on fierce competition from around the world and be the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to stage the event.
“The World Championships is among the biggest international sporting events, up there with the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup,” Mr Beattie said.
“The event, which is held every two years, attracts 3,200 world-class athletes and officials from over 200 countries and 500,000 spectators over 9 days.
“An event of this magnitude will mean jobs for Queenslanders and an impressive boost to the Smart State economy,” Mr Beattie said.
“For example, Seville reaped direct economic outcomes worth more than $AUD380 million (equivalent) when they staged the Championships in 1999.
“And this figure doesn’t take into account the massive flow-on benefits that come from international exposure.
“The Championship is televised to 190 countries and boasts a TV audience of around four billion – which will provide a significant boost to the State’s tourism industry.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he was excited about the bid because it would give Brisbane a chance to show the world that we are a world class city capable of hosting an event of this magnitude.
“Brisbane has been the host of very successful international events like the Commonwealth Games, Expo ‘88 and the Goodwill Games,” Cr Newman said.
“We are now ready to take another step forward and host the world’s third largest sporting event.
“Sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see the National Athletic Championships in our own backyard for the next three years, in 2011 it would be great to have a the World Championships in our city as well.”
Mr Beattie said Brisbane would not be the only part of the State to benefit from the event.
“Teams would be encouraged to set up training camps across the State in the lead up to the event and international spectators would be encouraged to visit the many wonderful and beautiful sights that Queensland has to offer.”
Mr Beattie said today’s launched followed his recent visit to Monaco where he met with International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) officials.
“I had the opportunity to express this Government’s support for the bid personally in a meeting with International Association of Athletics Federation officials – including Mr Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II and IAAF delegates.
“I also took the opportunity to invite Prince Albert to formally visit Queensland to experience first-hand what we have to offer to this international sporting event.”
Mr Beattie said Queensland Events and Athletics Australia have put forward an excellent bid that will position Brisbane strongly against other bidding cities.
The bid will now be reviewed by the IAAF Council Members and an evaluation team will visit Brisbane in early 2007 to assess the city’s infrastructure and public support, as well as the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) at Nathan where the event would be held.
“I encourage all Queenslanders to get behind the bid and show support for bringing the world’s third largest sporting event to our great State,” Mr Beattie said.
The 2007 and 2009 World Championships in Athletics will be held in Osaka and Berlin respectively.
ENDS
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Media Contact: 3224 4500
Mr Beattie said Brisbane was ready to take on fierce competition from around the world and be the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to stage the event.
“The World Championships is among the biggest international sporting events, up there with the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup,” Mr Beattie said.
“The event, which is held every two years, attracts 3,200 world-class athletes and officials from over 200 countries and 500,000 spectators over 9 days.
“An event of this magnitude will mean jobs for Queenslanders and an impressive boost to the Smart State economy,” Mr Beattie said.
“For example, Seville reaped direct economic outcomes worth more than $AUD380 million (equivalent) when they staged the Championships in 1999.
“And this figure doesn’t take into account the massive flow-on benefits that come from international exposure.
“The Championship is televised to 190 countries and boasts a TV audience of around four billion – which will provide a significant boost to the State’s tourism industry.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he was excited about the bid because it would give Brisbane a chance to show the world that we are a world class city capable of hosting an event of this magnitude.
“Brisbane has been the host of very successful international events like the Commonwealth Games, Expo ‘88 and the Goodwill Games,” Cr Newman said.
“We are now ready to take another step forward and host the world’s third largest sporting event.
“Sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see the National Athletic Championships in our own backyard for the next three years, in 2011 it would be great to have a the World Championships in our city as well.”
Mr Beattie said Brisbane would not be the only part of the State to benefit from the event.
“Teams would be encouraged to set up training camps across the State in the lead up to the event and international spectators would be encouraged to visit the many wonderful and beautiful sights that Queensland has to offer.”
Mr Beattie said today’s launched followed his recent visit to Monaco where he met with International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) officials.
“I had the opportunity to express this Government’s support for the bid personally in a meeting with International Association of Athletics Federation officials – including Mr Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II and IAAF delegates.
“I also took the opportunity to invite Prince Albert to formally visit Queensland to experience first-hand what we have to offer to this international sporting event.”
Mr Beattie said Queensland Events and Athletics Australia have put forward an excellent bid that will position Brisbane strongly against other bidding cities.
The bid will now be reviewed by the IAAF Council Members and an evaluation team will visit Brisbane in early 2007 to assess the city’s infrastructure and public support, as well as the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) at Nathan where the event would be held.
“I encourage all Queenslanders to get behind the bid and show support for bringing the world’s third largest sporting event to our great State,” Mr Beattie said.
The 2007 and 2009 World Championships in Athletics will be held in Osaka and Berlin respectively.
ENDS
Thursday, 30 November 2006
Media Contact: 3224 4500