No need to panic over Brisbane stadium plan, Olympic officials say

The first pitch was to use existing stadiums. Then came plans for a rebuild of the Gabba next to review, recommending a new stadium and the latest idea patch up several stadiums to make them Olympics ready. There’s really no reason to to start panicking at this at this point. Overnight the International Olympic Committee held its second ever round table with Brisbane 2032 officials to get an update on the plans as the smallest ever Olympic host city prepares 8 years out from the Games. We’re always there to to help with the technical side of things and to give advice. But is not for us to step in and give direction. But the IOC admits it’s up to the host to call the shots on venues. We cannot dictate the needs of the region and and its people. We have to hear that from the different levels of government. The state opposition also doesn’t support building a new stadium, but is willing to introduce a new independent authority to make those decisions if it wins the October election. Which leaves wiggle room for changes once again when Sydney won the bid, That was 1993. That was for seven years ago. So we have time. What happens? During the next election belongs to the future. As for the smaller venues, officials say work will begin within months. You’ll see activity this year, which is very exciting. Actually, we expect the first tenders to go out next month and that starts with the sporting facilities on the Sunshine Coast. We’ll soon see what a boutique games looks like when the Cauldron is lit in Paris in July. Josh Bavis, 9 News.