The 1956 Opening Ceremony. Melbourne went colour in 1975
Photo © 1956 AP via AAP
The 2012 Olympic Games are over, but the race has only just begun for the honour of being the next Australian city to host the Olympic Games.
Melbourne is polishing up its Olympic CV – it hosted the 1956 Games, as well as the 2006 Commonwealth Games – but at least one Olympic bigwig needs convincing, with Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates suggesting Brisbane might be a better bet.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the city’s venues and stadiums were ready and had been proven successful in major events.
"I don't think there'd be another another city in the world not hosting the Olympics that is as well prepared as we are right now," he told reporters on Tuesday.
(The Project does not have the resources to check this claim with every other city in the world that is not hosting the Olympics.)
"Think what we could do if we did dream large for 2024 or 2028."
Mr Doyle said Melbourne would need federal support to fund the Games and maintained the city would host the event in its own cost-effective style.
"We would do it differently. We wouldn't try to replicate bigger and better. We'd do it in a very Melbourne way," he said.
"You find ways you can do things that are memorable that are typically us and within our budget."
(We’re not sure what “a very Melbourne way” means. Possibly, he means all the competitors will dress in black and arrive late to every event because they drove out of the way to avoid doing a hook turn.)
However, AOC president John Coates has said Brisbane is the likely candidate for the next Australian Games bid.
"It's the best climate to host an Olympic Games in the window the International Olympic Committee is allowing," he told News Limited in July.
After hosting the Commonwealth Games in 1982, Brisbane bid for the 1992 Olympic Games, but only managed a bronze in the battle for glory. Barcelona won, with Paris second.
The problem with any Australian Games is that the IOC wants to hold future Summer Games in July, August or September, which would clearly clash with the footy.
Melbourne’s 1956 Games opened in November.
With AAP
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