Brisbane aims to host 2030 Pan Pacific Championships

While Brisbane 2032 is locked in, ambitious plans are underway to bring the world’s best swimmers to the city as a dress rehearsal with the city chasing a key event.

Brisbane could ambitiously host up to seven major international events at the new national aquatic centre before the 2032 Games begin if it opens as anticipated in early 2030.

Swimming Australia is finalising its bid to secure the rights for the 2030 Pan Pacific Championships – one of the biggest events on the competitive swimming calendar globally.

It’s hoped that event will be held at the new aquatic centre and kicks off an impressive two-year line up of swimming, artistic swimming, diving and water polo in the build up to the 2032 Games.

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse said the organisation was managing its expectations on venue construction timelines but there was a desire to replicate the lead up to LA 2028, with California hosting the 2026 Pan Pacs – two years out from their Games.

“Our project team, which includes top architecture and infrastructure firms who have been advising us all the way along, do believe this can be done by early 2030. But obviously the clock is ticking,” he said.

“Our hope is things start moving reasonably quickly now so we can have the pool finished and operational by early to mid-2030, and that opens up the opportunity for a range of different events.

“It would be fantastic to hold (the Pan Pacs) in 2030 at the National Aquatic Centre.”

Mr Woodhouse said the next main target event for the venue, to be built at Spring Hill next to the Centenary Pool, would be to host the World Para Swimming Championships in 2031.

Up to four other international artistic swimming, diving and water polo events could also be lured to the venue in 2031.

While hosting rights for the combined sports World Aquatics Championships will be pursued for 2031 or 2033.

Design by Archipelago Architects for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games venue at Victoria Park – National Aquatics Centre Picture Archipelago Architects

These events would all be in addition to 2032 Games trials being hosted at the centre, and each sports’ National Open Championships each year from the date it opens.

“We expect to host a lot of other domestic and other international swimming events over the years to come,” Mr Woodhouse said.

“We expect Brisbane to be to be sought after as an international aquatics venue for decades.”

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris this week said the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority and the relevant state government departments were working on detailed venue costings and timelines.

This is while discussions remain going between the state and federal government about repurposing the $2.5bn allocated to an indoor entertainment arena in Woolloongabba.

Minister for Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander on Friday said it was the objective to get major new 2032 venues ready for preliminary events but there were no firm construction timelines yet.

“Obviously we’d want to road test both Victoria Park Stadium and the aquatic centre with at least one fairly big event and (the 2030 Pan Pacific Championships) would be an ideal event to have,” he said.

Artist impressions of the National Aquatics Centre proposed for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Credit: Archipelago Architects.

“I just don’t want to speculate when that (completion of construction) will happen.

“I can assure you the stadiums will be ready for the Games and we’ll make sure we’ve done enough preliminary events.”

Mr Mander said it would be “embarrassing” to bid for any pre-2032 events if construction was not going to be ready.

“Once we’ve got a better idea of construction times … that puts us in a better position to make those types of bids,” he said.

“We still won’t know that for a little bit longer.

“I see the best advantage for us is actually after the Games, where it’s guaranteed.’’

Originally published as Brisbane aims to host 2030 Pan Pacific Championships