Interest in Perth hosting 2006 C'wlth Games expressed to CGA

February 29, 1996

The Western Australian Government has taken steps for Perth to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore said the Government today submitted an expression of interest to the Commonwealth Games Association.

"The final bid is due at the end of June this year and we are working hard to ensure WA is a frontrunner," Mr Moore said.

"I expect stiff competition from other cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, which have indicated they are interested in hosting the games.

"Projections show that the 2002 Manchester Games will attract about $50 million in tourism revenue. It is expected that the 2006 games will exceed that figure especially in view of the fact that participation in the Games has grown steadily.

"According to the Games Association, the 1990 Auckland Games had 2,700 competitors and organisers while the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games are expected have 5,000 participants."

Mr Moore said there was also an economic benefit for the State from television and radio rights, with more than 500 million people having watched or listened to the 1994 Games in Canada.

"WA has an enviable record in organising and hosting international events such as Rally Australia and the 1991 World Swimming Championships and Perth has established a world-wide reputation for its facilities," he said.

"Next year we will be hosting the World Senior Cycling Championships and Perth has again been selected to host the World Swimming Championships in 1998.

"We can provide technical, state-of-the art facilities such as the Superdrome and the Speed Dome and have the appropriate infrastructure to support a major sporting event."

Mr Moore said work had already been carried out by a State Government working party, initially established to examine the viability of Perth bidding for the 2002 Manchester Games.

"The working party, chaired by Town and Country Bank managing director Ray Turner, has been monitoring the changing demands and feasibility of hosting a Commonwealth Games," Mr Moore said.

"The team will be expanded to complete the work necessary to place the formal bid by the end of June."

The Minister said the working party was now waiting for the Games Association to provide additional information relating to the conditions and requirements for the bid.

"We need to examine the cost of bidding for and hosting the games and the long and short-term benefits the games may bring to the State in terms of infrastructure, tourism and business opportunities," he said.

"The City of Perth Council has indicated during initial discussion that it supports us placing a bid.

"When we looked at bidding for the 2002 Games the cost was around $250,000, while the cost of hosting the games will depend on what work, if any, is needed to bring facilities up to international competition standards. The games village has always been cost-neutral."

Mr Moore said the Games Association had formed an evaluation committee which would visit the States that submitted a bid to ascertain their ability to host the Commonwealth Games.

It is expected the committee would make its recommendation on the preferred Australian city by October and the association would make its final selection soon after.

The final decision on who will host the 2006 Games will be made when the Commonwealth Games Federation meets in 1999.

There have been three Commonwealth Games in Australia - Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962 and Brisbane in 1982.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444 or pgr 480 5325