Australia launches bid for 2011 World Sports Championships

The Australian state of Queensland has launched a bid to stage the 2011 World Athletics Championships.

The Queensland Premier, Mr Peter Beattie, said that the State capital, Brisbane, was ready to take on fierce competition from around the world and be the first city in the Southern Hemisphere to stage the global event.

Mr Beattie said that the World Championships was among the biggest international sporting events, similar to the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.

“The event, which is held every two years, attracts some 3,200 world-class athletes and officials from more than 200 countries and 500,000 spectators over nine days. “An event of this magnitude would create jobs and boost the economy,” Mr Beattie said.

“For example, in Spain in1999, Seville reaped direct economic outcomes worth more than $AUD380 million when they staged the championships.

“And this figure doesn't take into account the massive flow-on benefits from international exposure, Mr Beattie said. “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’s Lord Mayor, Mr 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," Mr Newman said. Brisbane is now ready to take another step forward and host the world's third largest sporting event.

Premier Beattie said that visiting teams would be encouraged to set up training camps in other Queensland cities prior to the event. Visiting foreign spectators, officials and supporter would be encouraged to visit the many great regions which Queensland had to offer.

This week’s official launch of the bid followed Mr Beattie’s recent visit to Monaco where he met with International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) officials.

“I was able to express support for the bid personally with International Association of Athletics Federation officials - including Mr Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF, the Reigning Prince of Monaco, His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II, and other IAAF delegates.

The Queensland Premier also invited Prince Albert to formally visit Queensland to experience first-hand what Queensland had to offer to this international sporting event."

Mr Beattie said officials had put forward an excellent bid to position Brisbane strongly against other bidding world cities.

The bid will now be reviewed by the IAAF Council Members and an evaluation team would visit Brisbane in early 2007 to assess the city's infrastructure and public support, as well as the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) in suburban Nathan where the event would be held.

The 2007 and 2009 World Championships in Athletics will be held in Osaka and Berlin respectively.

Canberra
30 November 2006