Qld: Games expected to inject $170 million into economy

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2001
Qld: Games expected to inject $170 million into economy

BRISBANE, August 23 AAP - As well as a possible windfall for the Queensland government,
next week's Goodwill Games is expected to inject $170 million into the local economy.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, who today picked up his VIP accreditation for the
event, said his government was expected to get a vast return on the $30 million it had
"invested" in the first Australian Goodwill Games.

"Queensland Events Corporation predicts that the Goodwill Games will create something
like 2,000 jobs and inject $170 million into the local economy," he told a news conference.

"It will generate 18,000 bed nights in 16 Brisbane hotels.

"(And) not only will the rest of the world be watching the best of the best, three
minutes of every hour of the telecast will focus on what makes Queensland such a wonderful
place."

Mr Beattie yesterday revealed the Games could return a profit, although any potential
profit won't be known until after the event.

He said today "games fever" was starting to build in Brisbane as the city counted down
the final days to the opening of the Goodwill Games.

More than 200,000 of the 330,000 tickets offered to the public have been sold and Games
organisers are expecting a last minute rush of ticket sales.

Mr Beattie today dismissed criticism that the games would fall flat and fail to attract
the attention of Australian and international viewers.

"It will be a success," he said.

"The world will be watching. When you've got the best of the best the world will watch."

AAP bja/sc

KEYWORD: GOOD BUDGET (WITH PIX AND AUDIO)

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