Brisbane begins push to host 2028 Olympics

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk is interested in the city hosting the 2028 Olympic Games and is being backed by the Australian Olympic Committee.

The Olympic rings are displayed in London

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk wants Brisbane to be the next Australian city to host an Olympic Games. (AAP)

Beijing, London, Rio, Tokyo, Boston, Brisbane?

Queensland's capital city is no global powerhouse, but Brisbane is dreaming big by stating it wants to host the 2028 Olympic Games.

Although dwarfed in population terms by the last two hosts of the Summer Games - Beijing (22 million) and London (13 million) - Brisbane believes it can bring the world's biggest event back to Australia 28 years after Sydney's success.

Acting on encouragement from International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach that an Australian bid should come for the 2024 or 2028 Games, Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has stated his city would be the "obvious choice".

Buoyed by the success of last November's G20 summit, Mr Quirk will meet with other southeast Queensland mayors on March 6 to discuss formulating a multi-city bid, centred around Brisbane, for the Games in 13 years' time.

While Rio is busily preparing to hold next year's event, Tokyo has the rights for 2020 and Boston is the strong early favourite (ahead of Paris) for the 2024 Games when its tipped for a return to the US.

The Australian Olympic Committee was quick to throw its support behind Brisbane.

Repeating Mr Bach's assessment that Australia has three cities capable of hosting a Games, AOC secretary general Fiona de Jong believes Brisbane has the advantage as Sydney (2000) and Melbourne (1956) have already had their turn.

"There has long been some interest from Melbourne wanting to host the Olympic Games again," Ms de Jong told AAP.

"I think where Brisbane has the upper hand is the climate.

"With a lot of the international qualifying events occurring in the European summer, you'd have to hold it some time in September to October and Queensland's obviously warmer at that time of year."

Ms de Jong says Melbourne would also be busy with AFL finals and the Spring Racing Carnival.

She said the regional bid approach would strengthen Brisbane's chances, given its meagre population of 2.2 million.

But the biggest challenge won't be the city itself, but the fact it's in Australia - geographically isolated and harbouring a time zone unpalatable for television audiences in Europe and North America.

Former Brisbane lord mayor Sallyanne Atkinson, who championed Brisbane's failed bid for the 1992 Games, said involving Brisbane's neighbouring towns and cities - particularly the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan and Ipswich - would be crucial to success.

"When we ran in 1985-86 we were very clear-eyed that Brisbane was indeed a small city and part of the purpose of the bid really was to promote Brisbane," she said.

Mr Quirk insists Brisbane is ready this time around.

"We've come of age as a city, there's no doubt about that," he said.

Queensland swimming great Duncan Armstrong said there would be no better place in the world.

"We intrinsically understand sport," he told AAP.

"It would be fantastic for the IOC and the whole Olympic movement.

"The Olympics was on its knees in the `90s until Sydney, which redeemed it's pomp, ceremony and prestige.

"Australia has got a great track record ... and Brisbane would follow suit."


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Source: AAP


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