Re: Commonwealth Games in Adelaide
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 6:55 pm
Adelaide shouldn't just bid the 2030 C/Wealth games but also the 2032/2036 Olympics.
Adelaide's Premier Development and Construction Site
https://mail.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/
https://mail.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1935
There is actually a World Expo going on right now!crawf wrote:Or maybe let's punch above our own weight and go for the World Expo. That would put Adelaide and South Australia on the map.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 6420187019Gerard confirms Adelaide bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games
Amber Halliday
July 08, 2012 10:35AM
INFLUENTIAL South Australian businessman and sports supremo Rob Gerard has officially confirmed his audacious plan to bring a Commonwealth Games to Adelaide.
Speaking at the Premier's Olympic Games Appeal dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night, Mr Gerard - owner of Adelaide United and a patron of the Crows - said a successful bid for the 2030 games would leave a legacy of world-class sporting facilities for future generations.
"Sydney's had one, Melbourne's had one, Brisbane has had one, Perth's had one," he said, talking about how Adelaide is the only mainland state capital to never have hosted an Olympic or Commonwealth Games. "It's time to do it. Previous governments didn't do it but with (Premier) Jay (Weatherill), we are going to do it."
Last month the Sunday Mail revealed that Mr Gerard and key players in South Australian sport were putting together a committee to build the case for Adelaide to host the 2030 event.
On Friday Mr Gerard said a 2030 bid would be the next chance an Australian city will have to host the event.
Labelling the bid as "absolutely essential for our city", Mr Gerard did not mention any specific details such as the site for an athlete's village or the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.
"Let's do it for our grandchildren. Let's do it for the future of our city. Let's get moving," he said.
Mr Gerard said he had been inspired by the way SACA, the SANFL and the State Government had worked together to deliver the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide was beaten by Kuala Lumpur to stage the 1998 Games, and in 2008 the Rann government withdrew from the pool of contenders for the 2018 event, with then-treasurer Kevin Foley calling the Games "a B-grade event".
Mr Weatherill was not at the appeal dinner - he was on leave - but he has previously backed Mr Gerard's push, saying: "It is a bold idea but I think it is the sort of ambition we should have for South Australia."
On Friday a well-placed Government source confirmed the Weatherill Government would "probably" support the bid but the Government was conscious that, for a 2030 bid, they would be long gone from office.
And some of Adelaide's facilities may also be outdated by 2030, according to the source. The Marion Swimming Centre is one of only a handful of FINA compliant pools in the world now, but it may not be the case in 22 years' time.
Mr Gerard is chairman of the Quarter Club, which aims to raise $250,000 every year to support Olympic athletes.
Whether we should bid for 2030 depends on who else is in the running. Only once have the Commonwealth Games been held in a Caribbean country, and they've never yet been held in Africa. Nor have they ever been held in Ireland, and considering the uncertainty over Northern Ireland's long term future, they may bid with an urgency nobody else can match.Hooligan wrote:A country like Australia shouldn't be so greedy to expect to host the Commonwealth games so often, let one of the smaller countries enjoy the benefits of hosting the games.
Firstly China is not part of the Commonwealth, secondly it doesn't participate in it, thirdly there are sports in the Commonwealth Games that are not played in China.rev wrote:If we theoretically won the Com. Games..why couldn't we strike up a broadcasting deal with China for it?
If you organised an international sporting event that included China and its neighbours, such as a Pan-Pac, they'd be interested. Adelaide would then get publicity in those countries. Maybe we should organise sanctioned events (meaning: with the blessing of the appropriate world governing bodies) with these countries in mind.But anyway, China is not a major world player when it comes to sport, let alone south east Asia. What major, significant achievements in sport do any have? None.
Exactly...with the right sporting events of course.On the other hand, their large populations are a bonus. Especially for broadcasting. Which brings me back to my earlier point, if a broadcasting deal can be struck, at least for the more popular sports...
Spot on...if we ever get it is more for self gratification, but no for worldwide exposure.Personally I'm not actually too interested in all this commonwealth games stuff. If we get it, great, if not, mehh.
Let's hope there's someone out there now thinking hard what our next world event will be.What I'd like to see is Adelaide hosting code specific events of national and International relevance.
Like you said, the Com. games are a one off event for a couple weeks.
Whereas these other events are throughout the year, meaning more continued exposure of Adelaide and SA.
The Chinese watch the TV news and read newspapers, etc., like we do. So of course they'll see snippets of events that interest them if there was something newsworthy, but it wouldn't be the same coverage as if they were actually participating here and had supporters follow them. That's why an Asian Cup (as you mentioned) and similar events with those countries spoken about will give us better value for money and exposure. And when these sporting events are run we should tie them up with some good marketing and business deals. Mr Gerard would know this well having had experience with Clipsal and now as patron of Adelaide United.rev wrote:I know they aren't in the Commonwealth and don't participate in it, which is why I said specific events(such as swimming for example), could be broadcast there.
If I'm not mistaken, Australia is hosting the next Asian Cup in football in 2015. Adelaide should and needs to make a big push to get games played here.
International friendlies leading up to the tournament as well. Australia - China, Australia - Japan, for example..
However, I still think making an all out bid for the F1 prior to the Melbourne contract running out, guaranteeing a night time race like Bernie wants, is one of the best opportunities that we will get.
But I'll leave it at that because we are going off topic
South Australian Government sizing up Commonwealth Games bid
THE State Government is seriously considering backing a bid for Adelaide to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Premier Jay Weatherill tonight announced the establishment of a feasibility committee to consider an Adelaide bid.
It follows revelations in the Sunday Mail last year that prominent businessman Robert Gerard was spearheading a group of sporting powerbrokers building a case for a games bid.
Speaking at the Premier's Games Appeal Dinner, which raises funds for Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic teams, Mr Weatherill said the committee would evaluate the possibility of South Australia submitting a bid to the Australian Commonwealth Games Committee.
It will examine the financial issues, the feasibility and the economic impact of a potential bid, as well as undertake a comprehensive audit of South Australian sports infrastructure and venues.
"The opportunity to pursue the Games is something worth considering," Mr Weatherill said.
"I've asked the committee to explore all issues relevant to South Australia potentially submitting a bid to Australian Commonwealth Games Committee.
"That will include making sure any bid would be financially viable and would help economic growth in the State.
"As one of the most livable and safest cities in the world, which already has some of the infrastructure foundations in place like the new Adelaide Oval, Adelaide would be a strong applicant to host the Games. But first we need to ask the right questions and make sure we are satisfied with the answers."
SA is the only mainland state yet to host a Commonwealth Games. Adelaide was beaten by Kuala Lumpur to stage the 1998 Games, and in 2008 the Rann Labor Government withdrew from the race for the 2018 event, citing budget pressures.
At the time then-Treasurer Kevin Foley branded the Commonwealth Games a "B-grade event".
Mr Weatherill said the work of the Commonwealth Games Feasibility Committee would lay the groundwork for a larger conversation about South Australia hosting the event.
The State Government has contacted the Australian Commonwealth Games Association advising it of the formation of the committee.
The committee will be chaired by Tourism, Recreation and Sport Minister Leon Bignell and will include Mr Gerard, the chairman of the South Australian Games Appeal Committee.