By Nick Butler at the Cumberland Hotel in London

Mark Peters is confident about preparations for Gold Coast 2018November 5 - Mark Peters, chief executive of the Gold Coast 2018, has dismissed claims they are behind with their preparations for the Commonwealth Games and insisted that everything is going according to plan.


Attention was focused on the Gold Coast last week because of the visit of the Queen's Baton Relay to the region as part of its 288 day tour ahead of next year's Games in Glasgow.

These celebrations were accompanied by reports plans were running behind schedule due to the delay in a master plan, originally due to be released in April but which will not be completed until next year.

Queensland's Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Struckey insisted last week that "it has not affected the rest of it [the Games]," which are "exactly on time and on budget."

This was reinforced today by Peters who claimed the release of the plan was due to changes put into place since the Games were initially won.

"When we did the bid book we had a major delivery plan, then after the bid was completed, we sat down with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and thought how we could deliver a better legacy around it," he told insidethegames at the Sport Events Management Conference here.

"So they agreed and that's what happened.

"We've done a major master plan considering all opportunities, including from Asia and other regions, so we're just looking at putting perhaps another sport in there to make it more multi-cultural.

"We've agreed that and we will do that for April next year." 

Peters added that "all time lines have been agreed and everything is under control,".and that they "are looking forward to the CGF visiting for the first Coordination Commission review in November".

He also claimed the aquatics venue is ahead of schedule and is due to open next June ahead of hosting the Pan-Pacific Championships in August.

Peters is confident that preparations for the Gold Coast Games are progressing wellPeters is confident that preparations for the Gold Coast Games are progressing well




Like London 2012, Peters claimed Gold Coast 2018 was more than just a Games, and its legacy will be "magnificent for the city and the country".

He described elements of this legacy project, such as the construction of a private hospital, and a new university. 

This follows the announcement by the Queensland Government that they plan to build two sporting arenas next to Metricon Stadium as part of a super-sports precinct that will be used for the Gold Coast 2018, with work due to begin next year.

Peters also emphasised the focus on tourism and of taking advantage of a region which is "beautiful one day and perfect the next".

"We have the iconic Gold Coast hinterland, of course, and a lot of development in the realms of arts and culture," he said.

"It is about developing the whole tourism trade with the local Government."

While the Commonwealth Games is much smaller than the Olympics, Peters described it as "a magnificent stepping stone", which creates "many opportunities".

There was huge support for the Queen's Baton Relay when it visited the Gold Coast last weekThere was huge support for the Queen's Baton Relay when it visited the Gold Coast last week


He used the Baton Relay's visit to illustrate the general optimism among the Australian public.

This was emphasised by a day of celebrations, which included a welcoming on Surfer's Paradise Beach and a visit to the Q2 skyscraper, as "absolutely fantastic".

"Having Sally Pearson taking the baton on the beach and then going into Q2 was great," Peters said.

"It was a fantastic way to get the whole community involved, in the Gold Coast and also in Cairns which will be hosting the basketball events.

"It was a really positive day and a reminder of what is to come."