Coast Games bid needs a little TLC

THE Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games bid is on life support.

Despite attracting interest from Commonwealth Games delegates and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the bid is on shaky ground.

Premier Anna Bligh yesterday said if the bid was not successful, the Coast would definitely host games during the FIFA World Cup in 2018.

"We put our hat in the ring. If we got the World Cup, there might have to be some reconsideration of the bid. I'm just being honest about it," she said.

Mr Rudd has failed to offer any funding for the Games bid, instead directing his attention to the FIFA World Cup.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief executive Perry Crosswhite has said the bid would require substantial federal support.

Ms Bligh said the decision for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup host countries would be made next December.

In the meantime, the ACGA will decide in the new year whether to pursue the Gold Coast bid.

"The ACGA has made it absolutely clear to me that if they decide that Australia should bid, there is only one place to consider and that is the Gold Coast," she said.

"They were excited about what the Gold Coast has to offer versus any other capital city in Australia. They think its the Gold Coast that would give us the competitive edge in a bid."

Ms Bligh, who travelled to Delhi to speak with Commonwealth Games delegates in October, said the FIFA decision was a serious threat to the Coast bid.

"I expect that it will be a factor that needs to be taken into account.

"The emergence of a serious bid by Auckland will also be taken into account, but without a doubt the Gold Coast is in play and we are going to back it to the hilt."

Ms Bligh said she was looking forward to hosting FIFA World Cup matches on the Gold Coast in 2018.