Queensland’s glorious Gold Coast will be playing host to the Commonwealth Games in just under four years, but momentum is ‘well and truly’ building for the event.
Thousands of international athletes, officials and visitors will descend on the city from April 4 to 15 2018, to take part in and watch a number of sports including gymnastics, aquatics, rugby sevens, badminton, athletics and boxing.
Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said that $59.3 million in funding had been provided this financial year to her department and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation, for significant planning work and the redevelopment of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
“In addition, $46.1 million has been allocated to the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning to develop the Commonwealth Games Village at Parklands, where site works will start in October this year.”
Village works are expected to begin on October 1 2013 and will be the “single most significant urban renewal project ever undertaken on the Gold Coast”.
This work on the games village may also provide opportunities for Gold Coast apprenticeships.
It is also anticipated that around 350 jobs will be created with the redevelopment of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, which is estimated to be completed by June 2014.
