The Federal Government recently wrote to the Queensland Government advising it it would support an Australian Commonwealth Games Association bid for the 2018 Games.

 

The Federal Government support had opened the door for an Australian bid, Bligh said.

 

Bligh said: "Should a bid proceed, the Gold Coast will have the exclusive Australian rights to bid as host city for 2018."

 

The concept has been discussed with the chairman of Queensland Events and the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, the Premier said.

 

Bligh said: "Recently I met with the president and CEO of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association and we agreed to commission a full and comprehensive feasibility study into the potential for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

 

"Under the stewardship of Queensland Events new chair, Mr Geoff Dixon, that study is now well advanced."

 

Bligh said she was considering travelling to New Delhi for next year's Games with Gold Coast mayor Ron Clarke, the former world record holder for 10,000 metres, to pitch the Gold Coast's case to the Commonwealth Games Federation.

 

She said: "Subject to the outcomes of this study and to advice from the Australian Commonwealth Games Federation, I will consider leading a delegation of representatives from the Gold Coast, including Mayor Ron Clarke, to meet with the Commonwealth Games Federation in Delhi, India at the annual General Assembly in mid-October this year."

 

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association will meet in early 2010 to decide whether the Gold Coast's bid for 2018 Commonwealth Games gold goes to the next step.

 

Bligh said the decision should be seen in a regional perspective.

 

She said: "This is not just about a sporting event; this is about developing a focal point for the future development of the Gold Coast, Brisbane and South-East Queensland."

 

Abuja, the Nigerian capital that lost out on the chance to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, has already declared its intention to bid for 2018 while candidates are also expected to emerge from Durban, Nairobi and New Zealand.