The Olympics will return to Australia for the third time, the International Olympic Committee confirmed on Wednesday, naming Brisbane as the host of the 2032 Games.
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Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, was the only bidding for the honor, but the Australians, led by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck and Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner, still had to make their case in person before the IOC's Future Host Commission, whose members are currently in Japan, ahead of the Tokyo Games.
According to The Guardian, Palaszczuk told the IOC that Queensland will offer the Olympic movement "a safe pair of hands". "We pledge to create a successful model under your new host city strategy by showcasing a cost-neutral, climate positive, safe ... and enthralling experience for the whole world."
The 2032 Olympic Games stand to be the third hosted in Australia, after the 1956 Melbourne Games and the 20000 Sydney Olympics. They are estimated to cost $5 billion.
Australian media hedged that hosting the Olympics will bring in $17 billion in trade.
"My government is proud to be supporting this opportunity for Brisbane and southeast Queensland," Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday. "The Australian and Queensland governments are fully funding the infrastructure projects to be delivered in preparation for the Games, ensuring that they deliver for Brisbane 2032, but also leave a lasting legacy."
Brisbane will also host the Paralympics.
"Our vision and plans are ambitious, as they should be," Paralympics Australia President Jock O'Callaghan said in a statement carried by The Guardian. "We will be guided by a relentless focus on inclusion, diversity and accessibility and we'll be driven by the Paralympic ideals of determination, equality, inspiration and courage."
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