Leisel Jones says Brisbane won’t suffer the same Olympic fate as Athens

Leisel Jones was at the peak of her powers in Athens and is adamant Brisbane’s venues won’t be left in “complete ruins” like their Greek counterparts after the Olympics.

Leisel Jones knows Brisbane won’t end up in the same way Athens did.

Leisel Jones knows one thing about Brisbane’s looming Olympic legacy – it won’t be like Athens.

No pool containing nothing more than tiny puddles of dirty brown water from the rain. No graffiti-splattered stands. No weeds growing on cracked concrete floors where Olympic champions once roamed.

And for that she is eternally grateful.

“I was in Athens and seeing those venues in ruins now shows how they were not able to be financially sustained,’’ Jones said.

This story is part of The Courier-Mail’s annual Future Brisbane series advocating for a focus on the right legacy outcomes from the hosting of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. You can read all of our coverage here.

“The swimming pool, the diving. It is all just in complete ruins. It looks like a ghost town now. That is a sign of what happens when you don’t think about legacy and you cannot afford it.

This photograph taken on February 19, 2024 shows the abandoned beach volleyball stadium at the Faliro Olympic coastal zone in Athens. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP)

“Brisbane will never be like that. I want to see a legacy that everyone can enjoy, not just for the Games, not just two weeks of sporting glory.’’

It is understood haunting photos of abandoned Athens venues after the 2004 Olympics – including a swim venue with dirty brown water, decaying stands at the former beach volleyball and hockey venues – are one of the reasons why the Olympics have pushed for sustainable models with a preferred use of current infrastructure rather than slapped up temporary venues.

Champion breaststroker and four time Olympian Jones believes the Brisbane Games must contain a mixture of key legacy venues – such as a main stadium – and other temporary ones – like the pool – which may be knocked down immediately after the Games.

The interior of the beach volleyball venue. (Photo by Angelos TZORTZINIS / AFP)

Some venues must stay, others must go – the key is having a firm “stick or flick’’ plan such as building a temporary pool in a Roma Street mega-site.

“Our showcase piece is swimming which we love and we can do it really beautifully but it does not have to be a massive stadium we can maintain forever,’’ Jones said.

“For the World Championships in 2007 they plonked a pool in the middle of Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne and it was just brilliant.

“To swim at Rod Laver Arena was such a thrill. You don’t have to have a legacy pool. You can do temporary pools really well.’’

She also supports the suggestion to build a main stadium which could host Australian rules, cricket and major concerts after the Games.

Leisel Jones during 200m breaststroke final of the Athens Olympic Games.

“Even when (Queensland Premier) Annastacia Palaszczuk was doing her work she said this was going to have long term benefits from this and I think it should,” she said.

“To me it’s the stadium. We have missed out on a lot of things. Even just like concerts. So many performers are not coming here because either they don’t want to go to Boondall and Suncorp Stadium is not the right fit.

“We deserve a stadium that is going to give us longevity. I don’t know the Gabba is the answer. I think Brisbane deserves a new stadium.’’