Gymnastics ‘snubbed’ from 2032 Brisbane Olympics delivery plan

Gymnastics Queensland are calling for the government to spring into action, saying the sport has been snubbed in the 2032 Olympics delivery plan. READ MORE

Gymnastics Queensland are calling for the government to spring into action, saying the sport has been snubbed in the 2032 Olympics delivery plan.

The state’s representative body is seeking a meeting with the Crisafulli Government about the future of the growing sport ahead of the first major domestic event of a new Olympic cycle – the Australian Gymnastics Championships at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre next month.

CEO of Gymnastics Qld, Chris Rushton, concerned about infrastructure plans for the sport in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics, while watching Australian gymnast Ruby Pass training at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre for the Australian Gymnastics Championships, which are on the Gold Coast early next month. Picture Glenn Hampson

Gymnastics Queensland (GQ) CEO Chris Rushton said the body was “unsure” where gymnastics will be held for the 2032 Games. There was also uncertainty for the future of the sport after it was missing from the 100 day review by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority.

“When the 100 day review was handed down, gymnastics wasn’t mentioned,” he said.

“The proposal we put to the government after the Games were announced was an indoor facility at Chandler Indoor Sports Complex in Brisbane. That facility was approved by government. It was out to tender, it was beginning to come to life, and then the 100 day review was handed down with the change of government and that wasn’t a part of the review, so we’re unsure what that means.”

The Chandler Indoor Sports Centre was among 16 venues to be built or upgraded under $1.8 billion in federal and state funding for the 2032 Games, transforming the existing arena built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games into a 10,000-seat indoor high-performance sports centre.

First look at Chandler Sport Precinct’s $257 million makeover

Mr Rushton initially met with Minister for Sport and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander in April following the release of the document, which failed to mention the proposed $257m Chandler Indoor Sports Centre or an alternative facility.

On Tuesday Mr Rushton said the government needed to act.

“Decisions need to be made because time is ticking,” he said.

“As the clock ticks, we need to know what’s happening, to plan and also deliver a great event. Gymnastics is one of the most watched sports at the Olympics, and to not know where it’ll be is really disappointing.”

According to research conducted by GQ the sport is rapidly growing across the state, with a 26 per cent growth in the last three years alone with facilities paramount to its legacy.

“We’re at 58,000 members – we’ve got more members than basketball in Queensland,” Mr Rushton said.

“We project by 2032 that we’ll have 100,000 members, so we need facilities to cater for those athletes, including here on the Gold Coast.”

Australian gymnast Ruby Pass training at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre for the Australian Gymnastics Championships, which are on the Gold Coast early next month. Picture Glenn Hampson

In a radio interview on Tuesday morning Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said if Brisbane had “no intention of spending money” on the sport, he would “reach out” to Mr Rushton.

“We’ve got a facility up north (Coomera), we have the gymnastics facility near Pizzey Park,” he said.

“My intention is to build a new facility there (Pizzey Park) as well so there’s both north and south (options). Long term we’re building the arena at Southport and with that arena I think it will be fantastic if gymnastics is centrepiece on the Gold Coast, but that’s up to further discussion.”

A spokesperson for the Minister Mander said the Crisafulli Government was working to ensure the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games deliver a lasting legacy for sport in Queensland, adding the Minister met with Gymnastics Queensland on April 3, where he committed to continuing to work with them on the future of the sport in the state.

Originally published as Gymnastics ‘snubbed’ from 2032 Brisbane Olympics delivery plan