Gold Coast bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games

The Gold Coast bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games was a successful bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games by the city of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It beat the Hambantota bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games to host the games, which will be held over 11 days, with the opening ceremony on 4 April 2018, and the last day of competition and closing ceremony on 15 April 2018.

Gold Coast Bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Logo of Gold Coast's 2018 Commonwealth Games bid
Host city Gold Coast, Australia
MottoIt's our time to shine
Opening ceremony4 April
Closing ceremony15 April
Main venueCarrara Stadium
Websitehttp://wwwgc2018.com/

Background

On 22 August 2008, the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, officially launched the Gold Coast's bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018. Ron Clarke, a medallist at both Commonwealth and Olympic Games and present Mayor of the Gold Coast, is expected to take a key role in promoting the bid.

On 7 April 2009, the ABC reported a land exchange deal between the City of Gold Coast and State of Queensland for Carrara Stadium. According to Mayor Ron Clarke the land will aid a potential bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The land exchanged would be used as the site of an aquatics centre. In the same article Mayor Clarke raised the question of the Australian Federal Government's commitment to a 2018 Commonwealth Games Bid in light of the Government's support for Australia's 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals bid.[1]

On 16 April 2009, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told reporters that a successful Commonwealth Games bid by the Gold Coast could help the tourist strip win a role in hosting the World Cup.[2] "Some of the infrastructure that would be built for the Commonwealth Games will be useful for the Gold Coast to get a World Cup game out of the soccer World Cup if we're successful as a nation," she said. However the decision on the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups will come 11 months prior to the bid decision for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, so the potential World Cup venues will already have been chosen.

On 3 June 2009, the Gold Coast was confirmed as Australia's exclusive bidder vying for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[3] "Should a bid proceed, the Gold Coast will have the exclusive Australian rights to bid as host city for 2018," Premier Anna Bligh stated. "Recently I met with the president and CEO of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association and we agreed to commission a full and comprehensive feasibility study into the potential for the 2018 Commonwealth Games," she said. "Under the stewardship of Queensland Events new chair, Mr Geoff Dixon, that study is now well advanced."

On 15 March 2010, it was announced that the Queensland Government will provide initial funding of A$11 million for the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid. The Premier of Queensland has indicated the Government's support for the bid to the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.[4]

On 31 March 2010, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association officially launched the bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[5] In October 2011, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke stated that the games would provide a strong legacy for the city after the games have ended.[6]

Venues
See also: Venues of the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Gold coast convention and exhibition centre
Carrara Stadium
Venue Sports Gross capacity Type
Carrara Stadium Athletics, Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony[7] 40,000 Upgrade
Robina Stadium Rugby 7s[7] 27,500 Existing
Gold Coast Aquatic Centre Swimming, Diving[7] 10,000/2,500 Upgrade
Coomera Sport and Leisure Centre Gymnastics, Netball (finals)[7] 7,500 New
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre Basketball (finals), Netball (preliminaries)[7] 5,000 Existing
Gold Coast Hockey Centre Hockey[7] 5,000 Upgrade
Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre Badminton, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Wrestling[7] 2,500 New
Village Roadshow Studios Boxing, Table Tennis[7] 2,500/2,750 Temporary
Runaway Bay Sports Centre Squash[7] 3,000 Temporary
Broadbeach Bowls Club Lawn bowling[7] 2,500 Upgrade
Carrara Indoor Stadium Weightlifting[7] 2,500 Upgrade
Southport Broadwater Parklands Marathon, Racewalking, Triathlon[7] 2,500 Temporary
Elanora/Currumbin Valley Road cycling[7] N/A Temporary
Nerang National Park Mountain Biking[7] 2,000 Upgrade
Queen Elizabeth Park[8] Beach Volleyball[9] 4,000 Temporary
Venues outside the Gold Coast
Cairns Convention Centre Basketball (preliminaries)[7] 5,000 Existing
Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre Basketball (preliminaries)[7] 5,000 Existing
Anna Meares Velodrome Track cycling[7] 4,000 New
Belmont, Queensland Shooting[7] 3,000 Upgrade

See also

Commonwealth Games celebrated in Australia

References
  1. "Gold Coast eyes 2018 Games bid with land swap - ABC Gold & Tweed Coasts - Australian Broadcasting Corporation". Abc.net.au. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  2. "Bligh pushes bids for Games, World Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2011.
  3. "Gold Coast gets sole right to bid for 2018 Commonwealth Games". Brisbanetimes.com.au. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  4. Name: (will appear on website) (15 March 2010). "Coast Games bid up and running Local Gold Coast News | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  5. Name: (will appear on website) (31 March 2010). "Coast Commonwealth Games bid backed Local Gold Coast News | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  6. Legacy benefits to Gold Coast of 2018 Commonwealth Games will be huge, says city’s Mayor Archived 26 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Sporting venues". Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  8. Coolangatta named as venue for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games beach volleyball venue Archived 21 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Exclusive: Beach volleyball to be played at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Archived 13 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
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