Olympics: Netball pushing for inclusion at 2032 Brisbane Games

Netball officials will campaign for their sport to join the 2032 Brisbane Olympics – a move supported by Netball SA, but they say there’s some challenges on the way.

Diamonds GA Kiera Austin and netball are shooting for Olympic Games inclusion. Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

It might take five years but Netball Australia has vowed to be “relentless” in their fight for inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics after backing from World Netball made the push official.

With netball being played by more than 20 million people in more than 80 countries, the sport’s officials are confident of mounting a good case for Olympics inclusion in 11 years.

“All our member nations are excited at the potential of being part of the Olympic family in 2032,” World Netball president Liz Nicholl said.

“We are committed to exploring the potential with Netball Australia and ensuring that our case for inclusion adds significant value to this very special Olympic movement.”

The Diamonds hope to play at the 2032 Olympics. Picture: Peter Meecham/Getty Images

NA chief executive Kelly Ryan said netball “deserved to compete under the five famous rings”.

“It’s going to be a lengthy process,” Ryan said of the task ahead.

“Early indication is that they’re still five years away from making a decision, but what they’ll see is how relentless everybody is in the netball world, and when we set our sights on something that we’re absolutely not going to let it go until we’ve resourced every opportunity in making sure netball is represented (at the Olympics).

“We want our junior netballers to dream of Olympic glory in the sport they love. Our sport deserves to be played on the biggest stage.”

Netball SA chief Bronwyn Klei applauded the Olympic push, but said the challenge would be to encourage more men into the sport.

“It’s the biggest team sport for women and girls, played in Australia by over 1.2 million women … the work that we would have to do (to be successful in the Olympic bid) is increasing men’s participation, that’s the job that would have to be done,” she said.

“Netball is played now in more than 80 countries, and it’s a Commonwealth Games sport (since 1998) and countries like Switzerland and Thailand and Argentina and the US have netball competitions … the work we could do here (in SA) is making sure our participation base is strong and then focusing on growing the boys and men’s competition side of it.”

Thunderbirds rising star Georgie Horjus will be 30 when Brisbane hosts the Olympics.

“It would be awesome to get that opportunity to go to the Olympics,” the 19-year-old attacker said.

Georgie Horjus of the Thunderbirds looks to pass the ball under pressure from Maddy Turner of the Swifts during the round 14 Super Netball match between Sydney Swifts and Adelaide Thunderbirds at Nissan Arena in Brisbane. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

The Olympic push comes after confirmation the opening two games of the Super Netball finals this weekend would be played in front of crowds in Brisbane, with Nissan Arena to be at 50 per cent capacity.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich said Olympics inclusion would be an “incredible opportunity” for netball.

“Being in lockdown all we’ve done is play netball or watch the (Tokyo Olympics),” Marinkovich said.

“You’re on the world stage so you get to showcase your sport, but it’s all the hidden stories that come around the Olympic Games that make it so significant.

“For us a sport we’ve grown the sport, and Australia’s been a leader in that.”

Diamonds star Gretel Bueta said netball’s inclusion the Olympics would lead to even bigger participation numbers in the sport.

“We’re already leading the way in women’s sport in Australia, so to take it to different countries around the world … I’d love to see China, the USA and Russia join the (netball) team.”

Netball has been a Commonwealth Games sport since 1998, is the biggest team sport for women and girls in Australia and is played by more than two million men, women and children nationally.

Sydney will host the 2027 Netball World Cup, with 16 nations battling for the sport’s biggest prize.

Originally published as Olympics: Netball pushing for inclusion at 2032 Brisbane Games