Clarke, one of the greatest runners in history, has a long history with the Games stretching back to when they were staged in Perth in 1962, where he won a silver medal in the three miles.

He also competed at Kingston in 1966, finishing second in the three and six miles, and at Edinburgh in 1970 where he won another silver medal, this time in the 10,000 metres.

"The Commonwealth Games to me are a family Games, a friendly Games and that's why I believe the Gold Coast is ideal for it," Clarke told insidethegames.

"We are a virutally a large small city and not a small large city.

"We'll have a very friendly spectactor orientated Games.

"It's a real laid-back way of life in Queensland and that would help the image of the Commonwealth Games."

Clarke, 74, returned to the Gold Coast after the city had lodged his bid book to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at a special ceremony here, which was also attended by their only rivals, Sri Lanka's Hambantota.

He then joined Queensland Premier Anna Bligh at an event in the Gold Coast to reveal more details of their bid.

"It has got to have sizzle, and that's what we're trying to provide," she Bligh.

Bligh also revealed, for the first time officially that some events will be staged in Brisbane and North Queensland.

Brisbane, which staged the Commonwealth Games in 1982, is earmarked to host track cycling and shooting, and Cairns and Townsville would stage preliminary rounds of the men's and women's basketball.

The remaining events such as wrestling, boxing, weightlifting, hockey, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, netball, badminton, mountain biking, road cycle racing, rugby sevens and the basketball finals would be held on the Gold Coast.

There are also plans for $500 million (£327 million) in transport infrastructure upgrades to help spectators reach the venues.

New venues to be built include a new permanent indoor facility will be built at Coomera to host the wrestling, a new indoor sports venue at Carrara to host the badminton and a new mountain bike facility at Hinze Dam.

In addition to the new facilities, upgrades will also be done to Runaway Bay Indoor Sports Centre for squash and weightlifting, the Gold Coast Hockey Centre at Labrador, Southport Broadwater Parklands for gymnastics, basketball and netball, the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for swimming and diving and the Broadbeach Bowls Club.


About $110 million (£72 million) would be used to upgrade roads to venues.

A $700 million (£457 million) Athletes village would be built at Parklands and later incorporated into the Health and Knowledge precinct of Griffith University.

The Village, catering for 6,500 athletes and officials, would then be used for affordable accommodation for students and hospital visitors.

Bligh said the Government had yet to decide if it would build the Village and sell it after the games, or offer the project to the private sector.

"We are currently doing the business case on which is the best way for Queensland taxpayers to deliver that," she said.

Queensland would outlay $1.7 billion (£1.1 billion) for the Games, but the cost would be offset by selling the Games Village and ticket sales, she claimed.

Bligh said $400 million (£261 million) in infrastructure investment earmarked for the next decade on the Gold Coast would be brought forward.

The Federal Government will pay for security, customs and visa expenses and the Gold Coast council will contribute $30 million (£20 million).

An independent economic assessment estimated the potential economic benefit of staging the Games could be as high as $2 billion (£1.3 million), Bligh claimed.

She said more than 33,000 full-time jobs would be created between 2015 and 2020 if the bid was successful.

"It [staging the Games] would mean the acceleration [in building] some of our sporting infrastructure," Clarke told insidethegames.

"This would add tremendously to the facilities that we could present to the world for the Games and also after the Games.

"We have a huge demand for sports facilities in Australia and on the Gold Coast we are always short, so having extra ones there would be a great assistance.

"It's part of our long-term plan but this would accelerate it."

The CGF is due to announce which city has been chosen to host the Games at its Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2011: Elephants, singers, dancers from Hambantota put the Gold Coast's little Eve in the shade
May 2011: "We don't underestimate Hambantota" claim Gold Coast
April 2011: Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid given boost by World Sevens announcement
April 2011: Queensland Premier to deliver Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games bid
April 2011: Triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist to lead Gold Coast 2018 Athletes Committee