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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 2 Hansard (28 February) . . Page.. 415 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

technology and location, to focus the attention of members of the Olympic family on Canberra. These sports marketing strategies will make a significant contribution to our efforts to achieve the high scenarios outlined in the economic benefits report, and generate an extra $10m per year from international visitors to the ACT over the next nine years.

Mr Speaker, I should make it clear that the figures I quote are based on Tourism Forecasting Council figures and are subject to further work now being undertaken. This ongoing analysis will include more detailed scenarios relating to international athletes visiting the AIS, which will provide a clearer picture of the economic impact of the Olympics on the ACT and our potential to capture every ounce of market share of international visitors.

Improving market share in an increasingly competitive field is not going to be easy. We have to take the initiative. The central purpose of the delegation to Brazil which I led was to take the opportunity of joining a gathering of world football and Olympic officials to promote Canberra's chances to host Olympic events in the year 2000 and Olympic squads for training in the preceding years. In the past, statements by the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition - the latter a former Minister for Sport - show that they clearly support Canberra's Olympic initiatives, and so they should. Clearly, they want to see Olympic events in Canberra, and, clearly, they want the ACT to host as many international teams as our facilities can handle. Both of these opportunities, if pursued with effect, will increase our share of international visitors.

However, will the millions of dollars of economic benefit and the untold promotional value for Canberra come to us on a silver platter? Of course they will not. They will not just drop into our laps. Canberra's share of the 2000 Olympics economic spin-offs, including international visitors, will be directly related to the size and effectiveness of our international marketing effort. Consider for one moment the Sydney Bid Committee's approach to winning the 2000 Olympics. They did not sit on their hands. They pursued a vigorous international marketing effort which put Sydney on the world map and focused the world's attention on Australia. While our effort is nothing like the scale of this initiative, we must take advantage of prime opportunities to promote Canberra's Olympic objectives.

Because we were prepared to take that initiative, the main objective of the visit to Brazil was accomplished. However, a number of other significant outcomes were achieved. Agreement was reached that the Women's World Cup for Indoor Soccer would be held in Canberra next year. This event will introduce an exciting new concept for the inaugural World Cup, the details of which are being worked out with FIFA, the world governing body for football. The Women's World Cup will involve over 1,000 athletes and stimulate significant economic activity in Canberra as well as reinforcing our reputation as an international sporting venue.

Following the Women's World Cup, Canberra would be seen as a strong contender to host a futsal competition should it become an Olympic event. There was clear optimism on the part of FIFA and IOC delegates that futsal would become an Olympic sport for the year 2000 and that, if it did, Canberra, from a number of perspectives, was a strong

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