Bligh claimed the decision to appoint the 38-year-old, a Labor politician who represents Broadwater in the Queensland Legislative Assemly, shows that the State Government remains fully committed to the bid.

"Some people have suggested that following the floods we should abandon the bid - but it's too important for the Gold Coast and for Queensland," Bligh said.

"No-one knows the Gold Coast better than Peta-Kaye Croft.

"She's knows what a boost it would be for the Gold Coast to secure the Games and she'll do a great job assisting me in promoting the Coast as the ideal location for the 2018 Games."

Bligh also claimed that if the Gold Coast did beat its only rival Hambantota to be awarded the Games by the Commonweatlh Games Federation at its meeting in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11 it would be history repeating itself.

"The 1982 Commonwealth Games [in Brisbane] were eight years after the 1974 floods.

"We had put the floods behind us and the Games were seen as a real coming of age for the city and for Queensland.

"The 2018 Games would be eight years after the 2010/11 floods.

"By then the state's massive rebuilding effort will be over and the Gold Coast Games would be a big shot in the arm for the Coast and for Queensland."

Croft, a renowned environmentalist who is a qualified swimming instructor and who speaks Japanese, predicted that it would be a major economic boost for the region if the Gold Coast won its bid.

"A successful bid would mean millions of dollars in new infrastructure for the region and would create thousands of jobs," she said.

"It would set the Gold Coast up for decades to come.

"This is a tremendous opportunity and I will do everything I can to help push our bid."