The Latest: Australia Olympic chief, leader in spat
Australia’s highest-ranking Olympic official and the current premier of the state of Queensland are putting an early test to the old adage that sports and politics don’t mix
The Latest on the Tokyo Olympics, which are taking place under heavy restrictions after a year’s delay because of the coronavirus pandemic:
Australia’s highest-ranking Olympic official and the current premier of the state of Queensland where the 2032 Summer Games will be held, have put an early test to the old adage that sports and politics don’t mix.
Hours after Brisbane was given the hosting rights for the Games 11 years down the track following an International Olympic Committee vote in Tokyo on Wednesday, Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates had a public disagreement with Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The issue at the late night news conference in Tokyo? Whether Palaszczuk and other members of the city’s delegation should attend the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on Friday.
Palaszczuk indicated she’d be staying in her hotel room.
That didn’t sit well with Coates, a powerful vice-president for the IOC and one of the driving forces behind Brisbane having received the hosting rights so soon without any real competition.
Coates told Palaszczuk that she and the others could not stay home and sit in their rooms.