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With both Brisbane and Melbourne considering bids to host the 2028 Olympic Games, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has thrown his region’s support behind an enlarged South East Queensland Olympic bid for the Games.

Saying he is “keen to support” the area’s inclusion in a potential bid, Mayor Jamieson told the Sunshine Coast Daily “the feasibility and detail would need to be worked through, and we will approach these initial talks with an open mind.”

Jamieson “it's still some time off - 2028 is still 13 years away - but now is the right time to talk about whether it's something to aspire to and what would need to be done to make it happen.

"If the 2028 bid from south-east Queensland is successful, we would most likely see a major injection of sporting infrastructure capital this region needs so it's worth investigating.”

Any major event hosting on the Sunshine Coast would likely focus on the Sunshine Coast Council’s Kawana Sports Precinct and Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The Council took back the naming rights of the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Kawana Sports Precinct, in July last year – ending the venue being known as the Stockland Park Precinct and Stockland Stadium (having been known as Quad Park before that).

Stockland Development Pty Ltd had sponsored the precinct over the previous seven years.

In taking back the management of the 45 hectare precinct (which includes the Sunshine Coast Stadium, Lake Kawana, Kawana Aquatic Centre, Eastern Fields and the Western Fields), the Council set out to use the new naming to better promote sporting opportunuities in the Sunshine Coast region to a local, state, national and international audience.

At the time Mayor Jamieson stated “this decision strengthens Council’s commitment towards sourcing and securing new major events which will help promote the Coast and shape a globally competitive economy in our region.

“Sunshine Coast Stadium is the Sunshine Coast’s premier sporting facility and after reviewing naming submissions, which were lodged through an expression of interest process, Council has decided to re-brand this venue in a way that is geographically recognisable.”

Currently home to two Sunshine Coast regional sporting teams – Sunshine Coast Falcons and Sunshine Coast FC (Fire) – the precinct is also home to a number of community sporting teams and competitions including Brothers Rugby Union, Sunshine Coast Rugby Union, Kawana Junior Rugby League, Kawana Senior Rugby League, Kawana Soccer Club, Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer and Kawana Touch Association.

These groups utilise the precinct for training throughout the week, and to host scheduled games on weekends.

17th July 2013 - SUNSHINE COAST PURSUES SPORT TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

8th March 2013 - SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL CHANGES MANAGEMENT AT STOCKLAND PARK

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