1999: Why Bankstown lost the Olympic Road Cycling Races

In the 2000 Olympic Games, Bankstown hosted track cycling events at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Bass Hill, which was built specifically for the Olympics. It is currently the only indoor cycling venue in New South Wales.

Did you know that Bankstown Council was to host Olympic road cycling events until The Sydney Morning Herald stepped in?

Why Bankstown?

The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) had initially been selected for the Eastern Suburbs. The Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox Studios did not want the course running through its "front door".

In response, SOCOG moved the road cycling events to Bankstown because of lower operating costs and "fewer roundabouts". Track Cycling events were being hosted at Bankstown (Bass Hill), and their onsite media centre could be utilised by media agencies covering the road events. 

The Sydney Morning Herald adds its two cents

On May 28 1999, The Sydney Morning Herald published a report on Page 1 written by Olympics Editor Matthew Moore. Two leading cyclists - Brett Dutton and Stephen Hodge, tested the course around Bankstown.

It was deemed "too flat" and would not attract leading international cyclists while praising the course running through the Eastern Suburbs. 

SOCOG backflips

Days after the article was published, SOCOG withdrew plans to undertake the road cycling events in Bankstown on the grounds of traffic congestion on local roads. This decision was not welcomed by Bankstown locals, including Bankstown Council. A modified course for the Eastern Suburbs was prepared and ultimately was the route used during the Olympic Games. 

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Source: Trute, P. 1999. "A suburb betrayed". The Daily Telegraph, June 3: 9. 

I can understand why Bankstown locals were unhappy, and it comes down to equity and the east vs. west rivalry that is so common in Sydney. Bankstown is real suburbia and would have given the locals an opportunity to experience the Olympic Games in their own neighbourhood without having to pay for the privilege or travel to the eastern suburbs to watch the race.