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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2737 ..

MRS CARNELL: Preliminary estimates prepared by the Office of Financial Management in May 1997 indicate that the direct economic impact of the tournament on Canberra and the redevelopment of Bruce Stadium is expected to be $23m. It is $23m, not $20m. This figure does not quantify the significant media coverage and interest generated about Canberra as a result of the event; nor does it include any impact of likely test events and pre-Olympic training by teams in the lead-up to the games.

Now that the MOU with SOCOG is signed and details of the tournament and financial costs are much clearer, it is intended to undertake a further substantial assessment of the total economic benefits of the tournament in Canberra. One thing that is very difficult to quantify but is probably one of the greatest benefits to Canberra is going to be the significant media coverage of the national capital right around the world. Those of us who have watched Olympic coverage in the past will remember the significant footage that was shown between events at Barcelona and at Atlanta and other venues where soccer was played in the US. The benefit of that sort of footage played to literally millions of viewers is very hard to quantify.

I am very confident that, after the Olympics in the year 2000 in Sydney, we will not still have the problem in the world that people do not know where Canberra is and do not know that it is the national capital of Australia. These games in themselves will provide the single biggest opportunity for Canberra to get out there in a significant marketplace, the world, and market ourselves as the national capital, as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We will be able to have that footage beamed around the world. I think that in itself is very exciting.

We already know that the Brazilian team has signed up to come to Canberra for, I think, eight weeks prior to the games. The financial benefits of that are not plugged into these figures at this stage. We know that there are also a number of other benefits. Pre-games groups have to come to Canberra to assess venues and so on. I understand that the Brazilian team are sending out a technical team of some 35 to assess the situation. We are also talking to a number of other countries whose athletes will come to Canberra in the lead-up to the games. All of those sorts of things need to be assessed and, as I have said, that assessment is under way.

Mr Whitecross: Are you going to provide the documents or not?

MRS CARNELL: I will seek advice on that. I honestly do not know what SOCOG's rules on these things are.

MR OSBORNE: My question regarding Wanniassa Oval is to the Minister for Sport, Mr Stefaniak. Minister, as you, I hope, will be aware, the Tuggeranong Vikings Club have been negotiating with the Government since early 1995 regarding the purchase of Wanniassa Oval. The oval is well suited to the club's future needs, as it is located adjacent to their main club and administration facility in Erindale, as you are well aware.

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