My grand plan to reinvent the Olympics
The tennis venue dilemma demonstrates why the Games should truly be global. Plus: It's Jamie v. Spencer on the radio — again; and more Brisbane Hilton memories
The Olympic Games may be the world’s biggest sporting spectacle (after the FIFA World Cup, of course), but they ain’t what they used to be as an economic proposition.
Or perhaps they never were — because their value is always couched in suppositions, generally about the amount of tourism and other business activity they allegedly continue to generate after the circus has left town.
Did the Olympics really bring extra tourism to, say, Sydney or London, after the event, or were those people always going to come because those cities have other attractions that tourists want to see, and any growth in numbers was just organic? I certainly don’t hear about people prioritising a visit to old sporting facilities in Homebush or Stratford over the Sydney Opera House or Tower of London.
I’m thinking about this in the light of recent reports in the lead-up to the big reveal of the State Government’s final — already far too late and certain to anger many people — plans for Brisbane 2032, which will happen on March 25.
The suggestion that Melbourne might “steal” the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic tennis events from Brisbane — unless we spend an estimated $113 million on more tennis facilities than we will ever need after the Games — got me thinking.
For each Olymics and Paralympics, the host city ends up paying for venues and facilities for sports that have almost zero local following. Most people wouldn’t cross the road to see these events in normal times.
My proposal: let’s have truly global Games where individual cities or countries compete to host not the whole shebang, but certain sports that the locals love.
So, the places with the best pools and greatest interest in watersports vie to host the swimming and diving, the places with the best equestrian facilities put their hands up for the horsey events, and so on.
That way we get the best athletes competing in the best venues, and no country acquires a huge debt building things that will soon be surplus to requirement.
And cities like Brisbane — although it’s probably too late for us, unless David Crisafulli’s grand plan is to farm out other events to the highest bidders — can get on with building infrastructure that will be relevant and useful for years to come.
They can direct the money they’ve saved towards solving pressing social issues that won’t evaporate when the Games are over — and, if tourism is a priority, developing attractions that people will want to visit for decades or centuries to come.
You know this makes sense. Spread the word!
Can we find Phil?
Further to my recent post about the Brisbane Hilton, there are at least two other things I should have mentioned.
The first is that there are (or at least were, as of two years ago) bee hives on the roof of the building, with the hotel producing its own honey. I wonder if that will continue.
The second is that my friend Top Level Ted — not the one who has been dead for a dozen years — reminded me that of the main reason he and I frequented the America’s Cup all those years ago. It’s because we were fans of the brilliant pianist Phil Hollett.
I know Phil moved on to the Treasury Casino after the Hilton, but I lost track of him after that. Does anybody know his whereabouts?
P.S. I said last time that I will try to raise a glass at the Hilton before it closes, and I have plans to make that happen this coming week.
Back to the future
An old radio rivalry has been rekindled. If you’re a radio listener in Longreach and other parts of North West Queensland, between 9am and 10am on a Saturday your choices include Spencer Howson on the ABC and Jamie Dunn on 4LG and West FM.
Back in the day, they were competing for your hearts and ears on weekday Breakfast shows in Brisbane.
Now, Spencer can be heard from 5-10am on Saturdays on 612 Brisbane and selected other ABC stations in Queensland, while Jamie is on the Resonate network, which also includes stations in Kingaroy, Roma, Mt Isa and Charters Towers, from 9am. (The promotional graphic doesn’t say how long the show is, but I’m assuming it is more than one hour).
Disclaimer: Brett Debritz has been around the Brisbane media scene for a long time. Too long, according to some people. Not long enough, according to him.
Maybe each competing country could chip in and the money be put towards building world class facilities in Athens? Facilities which a modest fee would keep upgraded in perpetuity, and where athletes can train year round...
Has to be cheaper than the insane costs for the host cities each year. Seriously, how much revenue do they get back from tourism to see the spectacle?
Well said Brett. I remember hearing a "marketing guru", on the now defunct, 'The Drum', on the ABC spouting off the benefits of building an AFL endorsed but not financially funded stadium in Hobart, when housing which in desperate need. He banged on about the supposed long-term financial benefits of all these AFL fans flying from the mainland to Hobart to watch a match. Neglected to mention that the average fan could not afford flights and accommodation to watch just one match, and why would they, when they can attend a game every weekend on their own turf. Same madness applies to the Olympic Games.