Forma2Plus: NlArticles

Modifier article

Informations

Article *

Niveau *

Editeur

Thème *

Mois du newsletter *

Journaliste

Origine

Fichier vidéos

Texte

Brisbane risks losing the 2032 Olympic Games tennis matches to Melbourne unless its facilities are upgraded, Tennis Australia says. 
Tennis Queensland has put forward a $113 million plan upgrade to the Queensland Tennis Centre (QTC) at Tennyson for the Games. 
It has proposed a new 3,000 seat arena and eight new courts in addition to temporary seating for the event.
"It currently does not meet the necessary standards — that’s why Tennis Queensland is advocating for additional government funding to upgrade the facility as part of the Olympic review process — and if unsuccessful we would consider hosting it in Melbourne," a Tennis Australia spokesperson said.
The submission has been made to the 100-day review into infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 
The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority delivered its report to the state government on March 8.
The government is set to announce its delivery plan on March 25. 
Tennis Queensland chief executive Cameron Pearson said the state didn't have a facility that was "fit for purpose". 
"We don't have enough courts, we don't have enough seating and our player facilities are not big enough," he said. 
"If we can't get the funding and the required number of courts and seating here at the Queensland Tennis Centre we will have to look elsewhere.
"It would be a travesty if we weren't able to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games here." 
However, Mr Pearson said he had "full faith" the state government would help deliver the infrastructure for Queensland. 
"You can't play tennis in late July in Melbourne with a top temperature of 12 or 13 degrees,"  he said.
"I don't think the players would be too keen on doing that and I suspect some of them wouldn't even come." 
Premier called on to rule out move
Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the government had been clear it would announce its decision on infrastructure on March 25. 
The Queensland government will finally announce the location of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games stadium next month.
“We have got this green and gold runway that we have got to maximise so we have got a legacy for a decade or two to come,” he said. 
Victorian government minister Nick Staikos said he was “not surprised” people would look to Melbourne as an option. 
However, he referred questions about whether the government had been asked for assistance to the sports minister. 
“We of course have the best sporting facilities in Australia,” he said.
Labor Shadow Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Grace Grace said Premier David Crisafulli should rule out the possibility of the tennis being played in Melbourne.
"This is about generational infrastructure for the people of Queensland and why should the next Ash Barty — a Queenslander — not have the best facilities,"  she said.

Date