Brisbane 2032 Games: Battle brewing over venues

Brisbane’s Olympic Games sporting venues could be changed, with some sports calling for new facilities and the Gold Coast lobbying to poach flagship events from the capital.

A Brisbane Arena concept study by Noel Robinson Architect and HKS

Swimming Australia is calling for a legacy facility and the Gold Coast is lobbying to poach flagship events from the capital amid fierce debate over Brisbane’s Olympic Games sporting venues.

A venue masterplan was submitted to the International Olympic Committee in 2021 before it awarded the 2032 Games to Brisbane, however sporting groups and stakeholders are continuing to lobby for changes, with athletics, swimming and diving venues the most contentious.

Swimming Australia, in a submission to a Senate inquiry, called for a lasting legacy for the sport.

“Brisbane Arena promises to be an exciting venue for swimming in 2032 and its construction in time for the Games will deliver a lasting legacy for Brisbane as an indoor entertainment venue, but it does not deliver a permanent legacy venue for swimming,” it said.

“Swimming Australia would prefer permanent legacy venues … but we are bound by the reality created by decisions already taken and acknowledge the factors that informed them.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has reignited a push for athletics to leave The Gabba for Carrara and swimming to quit Brisbane Arena for the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

“I’ve spoken to Swimming Australia and they’d rather swim there,” he said of the Southport venue.

Mr Tate said US swim champion Michael Phelps endorsed outdoor swimming at the aquatic centre.

“Athletes themselves would rather swim at our aquatic centre. If the IOC said we want you to put a roof on I’d scratch my head and I reckon I could get a sponsor to put the roof on for us.”

Mr Tate said athletics could be held at the Gold Coast Suns’ home ground.

“On Carrara, we ran athletics for the Commonwealth Games and it wouldn’t be too much effort to re-lay the track,” he said.

His comments are backed by Woolloongabba residents who are calling for the protection of Raymond Park, the planned location of the athletics warm-up track.

Diving Australia also revealed it was yet to receive details about the slated upgrades to the Sleeman Centre at Chandler, which will be 51 years old at the time of the Games.

Diving Australia boss Liz Jack said the group was unsure if an upgrade meant a “full scale refurbishment” or something as little as a seating upgrade.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Games were being used to bring sporting projects forward.

“The new and upgraded venues have been chosen because they’re required for our growing population in the future,” he said.

“Our plan does include a swimming legacy for Queensland. The master plan also includes an upgrade of the Brisbane Aquatic Centre.

“Revamping the pool at Chandler will once again leave the centre as aquatic legacy for professionals and the public.”

The state government is unlikely to make major changes to the venue master plan, however minor amendments are expected, including in 2025 when the IOC confirms which sports will be included in the 2032 Games.

It can also be revealed former Labor transport and finance minister Rachel Nolan contributed to a Deloitte report which recommended the government keep the Brisbane 2032 Co-ordination Office – responsible for Games-related infrastructure – in-house.

The Palaszczuk government has previously cited Deloitte’s advice as reason for keeping the commission within the bureaucracy, which is at odds with previous Olympic Games.