Legal threat hangs over Brisbane Olympics centrepiece
A long-awaited venue plan has finally been revealed for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics, but organisers may face a storm from legal action over the main stadium.
Another storm may be brewing for Brisbane 2032 Olympics organisers just as they savour a long-awaited venue plan.
Brisbane 2032 boss Andrew Liveris was all smiles on Tuesday after the Queensland government finally unveiled a bold Olympic infrastructure blueprint following a 100-day review.
A new 63,000-seat main stadium at the inner-city Victoria Park is the centrepiece of a plan delivered almost four years after Brisbane was named host city.
The long wait had prompted questions for Liveris from the International Olympic Committee at a meeting in Greece just last week.
The Olympic body urged Liveris to confirm the venue plan âthe sooner the betterâ after speculation had played out in the media, sparking fears organisers were running out of time.
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The IOC announced just days earlier it had delayed naming the Brisbane 2032 Olympicsâ sports program by 12 months until 2026, with the venues yet to be determined.
The Brisbane 2032 boss had hoped delivery of the eagerly awaited venue plan on Tuesday would provide a positive path forward.
âThere is nothing about this that is embarrassing. Everything is doable,â he said of the infrastructure blueprint.
âThis is a âgo get it doneâ plan and my God, are we ready to go get it done.
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âQueensland gets the best of venues, the Games get the best of Queensland â thatâs my line, and Iâm going to stick with it.â
However, it might not be all smooth sailing, as a protest group considers legal action over the jewel in the 2032 crown, the Victoria Park main stadium.
The Save Victoria Park group is crowd-funding as it contemplates a legal challenge that could threaten the stadiumâs development.
The protesters say the Victoria Park plan would destroy valuable green space at a site of significance to First Nations communities.
They are also not happy Queensland Premier David Crisafulli broke an election promise after initially insisting no new stadiums would be built for 2032.
âWeâre madly fundraising now, so weâre serious about it,â Save Victoria Park spokeswoman Sue Bremner said of legal action.
âWeâre incredibly disappointed a brand-new premier has broken a solemn election promise⌠it is just plain wrong to be losing a heritage-listed green space in the 21st century.â
Crisafulli said there was no choice but to build a new venue with no time left to revamp the ageing Gabba.
Asked how he would deal with breaking an election promise, the premier said: âBy being honest and copping that on the chin. I have to own that and I will.
âI am sorry⌠in the end, the choice was clear the Games must be held at a new stadium at Victoria Park.
âAny other choice would have meant placing the governmentâs political interests ahead of the interests of Queenslanders.â
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