Plans for new and redeveloped venues for the Brisbane Olympic Games have broadly been backed by Australia’s sporting authorities, although reservations have been voiced in some quarters after the Queensland government announced its intention to backflip on an election promise.
After several false starts the Crisafulli government revealed on Tuesday that a new $3.8bn venue will be developed at Brisbane’s Victoria Park and replace the Gabba stadium, which will be demolished. The new development will include a national aquatic centre, while the nearby RNA Showgrounds will house the athletes’ village.
The Australian Olympic Committee welcomed the Queensland government’s decision and the certainty that it brings ahead of Brisbane 2032.
“The Queensland government’s response is a very positive step towards delivering a successful Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” AOC president Ian Chesterman said.
“The reality is the Brisbane Games are a once-in-a-generation opportunity that creates potential legacy benefits that extend far beyond just the Games period.”
Paralympics Australia was supportive of the broader plan while saving much of its enthusiasm for a newly proposed indoor sports facility upgrade at Chandler specifically for para-sport.
“Accessibility cannot be treated as an afterthought or a bolt-on just for the Paralympic Games,” PA president Alison Creagh said. “It must be embedded in all infrastructure planning from the outset.”
Australian Athletics and Queensland Athletics also welcomed the decision to lock in Victoria Park as the main site while calling for further detail on the long-term plans.
“While we are pleased to see clarity on where athletics will be showcased during the Games, we are deeply disappointed that today’s announcement makes no mention of a lasting legacy for athletics,” AA said in a statement. “Today’s announcement leaves the state with no legacy venue and no suitable venue for lead up international and nationals events before the Games, impacting preparation, participation and performance.”
The decision to demolish the historic 42,000-seat Gabba stadium and replace it with a new venue has been welcomed by current tenants the AFL, Cricket Australia, Brisbane Lions and Queensland Cricket.
“I can’t wait to get to work with Brisbane and the government in the planning process and then in ensuring that once it is built, we sell out games at Victoria Park in the same way we sell out the Lions’ games at the Gabba,” AFL chief executive Andrew Dillion said.
Greg Swann, Brisbane Lions chief executive, added: “The Gabba has been a great home for the past 30 years, but the city has outgrown it, the Lions have outgrown it; we’ll top 70,000 members this year and the venue is reaching its end of life.”
While the AFL has regularly fixtured games at the Gabba since 1991, the venue first hosted a Test in 1931 and was the site of the famous tied match between Australia and West Indies in 1960.
“We strongly advocated building a stadium in Victoria Park together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL and Brisbane Lions, and cricket will play a major role in ensuring this significant investment delivers long-term benefits for cricket fans and the people of Queensland,” CA said in a statement.
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Australia’s water sports leaders were quick to welcome the announcement to develop a National Aquatics Centre as part of the Brisbane 2032 master plan.
The Centenary Pool in Spring Hill will be upgraded and complemented by a new main and secondary stadium featuring two large indoor pools to support elite training and competition. The centre will also become a national base for swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming.
“Today we celebrate the most significant investment ever in aquatic sports in Australia,” said Rob Woodhouse, Swimming Australia chief executive. “Our magnificent Paralympians and Olympians will inspire us all through their achievements at the NAC in 2032 and for decades after.”
Cam McEvoy, 50m freestyle gold medallist at Paris 2024, said he was excited by the prospect of bringing aquatic sports together under the one roof and “all of the dreams it will ignite”.
Lakeisha “Lucky” Patterson, three-time Paralympic gold medallist, expects the venue to “champion inclusivity”.
But Rowing Australia expressed its concern with the plans after Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River was named as the site for rowing and sprint canoeing in the 2032 Games.
Freshwater crocodiles are regularly spotted in the Fitzroy River, although fears of an attack on the world’s best rowers were dismissed by Brisbane 2032 chief Andrew Liveris.
Rowing Australia boss Sarah Cook was more concerned about the current than crocs, and whether an event to be held in a river rather than a lake or man-made venue will meet international rowing regatta standards.
“Any rowing course used for international racing must pass the strict technical requirements of World Rowing and that assessment has not yet taken place,” said Cook, a two-time Olympian.
