Possible bid for Perth to host 2002 Commonwealth Games

29/12/93

The Western Australian Government is considering making a bid to hold the Commonwealth Games in Perth in the year 2002.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore announced that the Government had agreed to the recommendation of the Commonwealth Games Bid Working Party that an expression of interest outlining Perth's keenness to host the games should be sent to the Commonwealth Games Association by the end of this week.

The working party, under the chairmanship of Town and Country Bank managing director Ray Turner, has also recommended that studies be undertaken of possible sites for a games village, netball centre, badminton centre and a major stadium - or alternatively, the redevelopment of Perry Lakes Stadium as the track and field venue.

The State Government will discuss funding assistance with the Federal Government and conduct preliminary studies of sponsorship with the corporate sector.

The Commonwealth Games in 2002 is expected to attract 3,500 athletes to the host city, four times the number that competed at the Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Perth in 1962.

It is estimated that the games, if held in Perth, would generate a cost benefit to WA of up to $132 million, excluding the impact of facilities expenditure.

"The benefits to WA of staging the Commonwealth Games in Perth are many and far-reaching," Mr Moore said.

"However, it is very difficult to quantify those benefits fully in terms of the community.

"Both the State Government and the Games Bid Working Party are adamant that there are a number of factors that must first be determined before any official bid is made.

"We regard it as essential to have discussion with the Federal Government, the corporate sector and State and national sporting associations to gauge their respective levels of interest and commitment before proceeding further.

"It is also important that further cost benefit analysis of staging the games in Perth be undertaken and that we determine the level of interest of overseas countries which may consider bidding.

"If, for example, we found that we could not get sufficient funding support from the Federal Government and there was little interest in sponsorship involvement shown by the business community, we would not proceed.

"But it is my feeling that we will get a positive response from all sectors, despite the fact that there will have been a limited time span between the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

"Another major event in Australia soon after the 2000 Olympics would ensure the sporting impetus from Sydney would be maintained.

"Together with the City of Perth and the sporting community we look forward to investigating fully all the possibilities of mounting a Commonwealth Games bid."

Mr Moore indicated that the City of Perth was represented on the working party and this week the new commissioners had met and endorsed the decision that Perth should submit an expression of interest to host the games in 2002.

Australia has previously hosted the Empire or Commonwealth Games three times - in Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962 and Brisbane in 1982.

Media contact:  Casey Cahill 321 1444