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WA isn't the only state using a stadium debate to sway the voting public for the upcoming state election.
STATE Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith has committed to a bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games if the Liberals are elected in 2010.
It would be Adelaide's third bid for the Games after failed attempts in 1990 and 1996.
Mr Hamilton-Smith will unveil his official policy in a keynote address today to the annual general meeting of the Liberal Party.
He said he would begin work on the bid while in Opposition.
"We'll appoint an interim advisory group to start an audit of our sporting infrastructure and develop a framework for the bid process," he said.
Mr Hamilton-Smith said bidding for the Games would be one of the Liberal Party's "urgent tasks on coming to government". He said it "runs together with our support for a world-class stadium" in Adelaide.
The Opposition has been pushing for months for a commitment from the Government to refurbish AAMI Stadium or Adelaide Oval or build a new stadium in Adelaide's CBD.
Yesterday, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced her state would also make a bid for the 2018 Games, to be held on the Gold Coast.
The ACT and West Australian governments have announced feasibility studies to examine possible bids for Canberra and Perth to host the Games in 2018.
The next two Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi (2010) and Glasgow (2014).
Also in his speech to the party conference, Mr Hamilton-Smith is expected to call for party unity and for it to remain focused and determined in the lead-up to the 2010 state election.
Adelaide is the only mainland state capital to have never hosted a Commonwealth Games.
The Games have been held in Sydney in 1938, Perth in 1962, Brisbane in 1982 and Melbourne in 2006.
"In 1990, SA started work on a bid for the 1998 games," Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
"We had a bid committee and a board that put together proposals for accommodation, sporting facilities, and transport and tourism facilities.
"We missed out, just beaten by Kuala Lumpur.
"From March, 2010 we will begin that process again, culminating in a decision at the end of 2011 by the Commonwealth Games Federation."
Mr Hamilton-Smith said the Games were as much about reputation, pride and achievement of the host city as they were about the estimated 4500 athletes, 17 sports and 50,000 overseas visitors.
"This will begin the regeneration of our tourism industry and provide a sporting heritage for our young people to build on," he said.
"As part of this process we will need to complete an audit of our sporting infrastructure and I call on the Rann Government to begin that process.
"Regardless of their actions, we will start that process while in Opposition."
On the Queensland bid, Mr Hamilton-Smith said it appeared Anna Bligh was "not satisfied with taking our water, she wants to take our opportunity to host the Commonwealth Games".
AdelaideNow... Poll pledge: Libs would bid for 2018 Commonwealth Games
is Carpenter still keen on hosting those games here in Perth??
Could end up being the battle for the title for Australia's most boring city. Winner gets the games, loser gets the title
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There's no competition Jargs, at least Perth has staged the Commonwealth games (even if it was called the Empire games back in 1962).
problem is, most of Perth think it's still 1962
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So? Most of Adelaide still thinks we're part of the 'Empire'
Perth is no better, they still cling to the 1933 succession referendum
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apparently the Gold Coast may have a crack at the 2018 games as well (page 11 of todays newspaper)
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So thats the WA, Gold Coast, ACT and South Australia.
Bet we dont make the podium.
another "big bag of dissappointment" brought to you by the WA State Government
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missed that part. Kudos to you tocc. Bit bored mate??
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But it had already been quoted.
But I can't see Perth winning the games, Adelaide's bid is based on the opposition party winning an election. You would think that would make the Gold Coast the favourite, at least as far as possible Australian bids are concerned
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WA wont get it.
we dont have the faclilties. and the state govt hasnt put in place an adequate plan for them to be developed in time for the games.
and you would need more than one stadium to host them!
so that puts us shit out of luck