Queensland Premier Steven Miles said on Tuesday that he had decided to go ahead with the AU$1.6 billion (almost €1 billion) Games project because the review was considered very difficult to justify. He based his decision on the advice of International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates.

Thus, the IOC's recommendation prevailed, or at least had a significant influence on the Queensland Government's decision to disregard key recommendations of a Brisbane 2032 infrastructure review.

The majority of the review's 30 recommendations were accepted by the government of Australia's third largest city on Monday, ensuring that the controversial Gabba redevelopment will be scrapped. As well as ruling out the Gabba, the review also rejected a plan to build a $3.4 billion (about €2.04 billion) stadium in a Brisbane city park as the centrepiece of the 2032 Games.

The Government will consider upgrading Suncorp Stadium and the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) to host flagship events, in a departure from the review's recommendations. The Premier said it was a "difficult decision" to reject the review's proposal to build a new world-class stadium at Victoria Park in the city centre, but backed a plan for Suncorp Stadium to host the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics events at QSAC, following Mr Coates' advice. 

Mr Miles said the IOC vice-president had expressed a preference for improving existing facilities for the 2032 Games. "I will support the proposal... that was in the submission that John Coates made to the (review) inquiry," Mr Miles told Parliament on Tuesday.

"And he wanted to make it clear that we don't need a new $3.4 billion stadium, that we could host the games with our existing stadiums." The review, led by former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, said QSAC - a venue from the 1982 Commonwealth Games - would require a $1.6 billion redevelopment, but believed this was "very difficult to justify" and would not demonstrate value for money.

The Miles government said Olympic upgrades to Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba would cost a total of about $1 billion (€600 million). "Brisbane will host the greatest Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our legacy will be enhanced venues across the state."

Brisbane Olympic Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris supported the decision to upgrade existing infrastructure, but called for speedy action. "Time and cost estimates are critical and progress must be made quickly," he stressed.

"We acknowledge the actions of the Queensland Government in accepting the majority of the Panel's recommendations and urge that the due diligence on venues and infrastructure be completed expeditiously and in consultation with stakeholders," Liveris added in a statement.