BRISBANE could be set to bid for the Olympics again as early as 2020 as part of an Australian strategy to host every major sports event over the next 12 years.

 

Football and rugby union have held talks on a joint strategy to stage World Cups in their respective sports in 2018 and 2019.

 

The Queensland Government and Victoria's Major Events Company have lodged preliminary bids with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)  to host a Summer Games between 2020 and 2030.

 

John Coates, the president of the AOC, said: "The Queensland Government and Victoria's Major Events boss, Sir Rodney Eddington, have both shown interest in bidding for an Olympic Games between 2020 and 2030, and I told Sir Rod that Australia's best chance is for a city which hasn't had the Games.

 

"That means Brisbane, but we've got to look at whether Brisbane will have the infrastructure by 2020.

 

"While I don't want them spending money - it costs A$50 million (£21.2 million) alone for an Olympic bid - they've got to look at leaving land for a stadium and an Olympic Village contiguous with it.

 

"If Brisbane is up for it, we'll support them but, if not, it's Melbourne."

 

Other cities who have declared an early interest in staging the 2020 Olympics are New Delhi and Istanbul.

 

Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia with a population of 1.8 million.

 

It has previously hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the 2001 Goodwill Games.

 

Australia has previously staged the Olympics twice, at Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000, a Games generally considered to be the best in history.

 

Australia is also considering a bid to host another Commonwealth Games in 2018, with the Gold Coast and Perth both having expressed strong interest.

 

Melbourne staged the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

 

But they may be forced to withdraw if the Government refuses to endorse the bid in fear that it could not afford to stage both a Commonwealth Games and World Cup tournament in the same calendar year.

 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has committed to the World Cup 2018 bid, which it is estimated will cost the Australian Government A$50 million (£21.2 million).

 

England are also bidding for the 2018 World Cup and the Rugby Football Union have also expressed an interest in the 2019 tournament.