‘Absolutely mental’: Brisbane Olympic plans divide Australia
The unveiling of plans for the Brisbane Olympics has sparked fierce backlash online with Australians divided over the announcement.
Olympics
Don't miss out on the headlines from Olympics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The venue plans for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games have sparked fierce backlash online among Australians.
On Tuesday, Premier David Crisafulli set out which cities will host what events up and down the Sunshine State.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
A new Olympic stadium will be built at Victoria Park, as will a 25,000-seat National Aquatic Centre, which will become the home of Australian water sports.
The RNA Showgrounds will become a 20,000-seat boutique stadium, next to a relocated Brisbane athletes’ village.
Brisbane Tennis Centre will see a new 3000-seat court next to Pat Rafter Arena and 12 additional new courts.
The new 60,000 seat stadium at Victoria Park will be home for the Brisbane Lions and Cricket Australia matches after the Games.
The unveiling of the plans however left those watching on divided with many quickly calling out the Premier for backflipping on his election promise of no-new stadiums being built.
Opposition Leader Steven Miles wasted no time taking aim at the Premier, writing on X: “He promised you no new stadiums. Today he announced he will build a new stadium in Victoria Park. It’s not good enough that he’s broken this promise.”
Miles wasn’t alone in questioning Crisafulli’s election promise backflip with one news.com.au commenter writing: “A broken promise, how surprising, NOT. Another one term LNP government.”
Despite the backlash, the general consensus appeared to be in favour of a brand new, world class stadium being built for the Games over a floated upgrade to the ageing Gabba.
One wrote: “The embarrassment of hosting the games at QSAC has been avoided. Victoria Park it is. New stadium. New aquatic centre. New identity.”
A second added: “Hosting the Olympics at QSAC would have been an embarrassment for Australia & Brisbane.”
The biggest talking point however in the wake of the plans being announced centred around the cost behind the Games and building the new venues.
With countless Australians enduring a time tough thanks to the cost of living crisis, many weren’t happy with the outlay of billions of dollars for a sporting event.
One wrote on Facebook: “Olympics are a joke. Waste of tax payers money for a 2 week sporting junket. If the IOC want the Olympics then the IOC should fund the host country to host, not the other way around.”
A second wrote: “F*** the Olympics, got bigger issues than holding a carnival for rich sport people.”
A third added: “AND they’re going to fix the housing crisis when and how!? By spending all this money on the Olympics of course?”
One news.com.au commenter wrote: “The Olympics nearly bankrupt each place that has hosted them. Absolute waste of taxpayers money. Should never bid to host them.”
While most appeared to be on-board with the Victoria Park plans, it was the National Aquatic Centre upgrade that drew heavy attention.
The upgraded venue, which will have a capacity to hold 25,000 people and will cost about $650m, will become the home of Australia’s water sports and host swimming, diving and water polo at the Games.
Journalist Mark Gottlieb took issue with the size of the facility needed to host the events for the Games.
“What on earth do we need a 25 thousand seat swimming complex for?” he wrote on X.
“Honestly. Absolutely mental. Leaving a legacy for swimming is a worthwhile goal but a giant white elephant that will never be used is nuts.”
The venue will have a permanent seating capacity of 8,800 once the Games are over.
While all the attention fell on the venues within Brisbane, the 2032 Games will be spread throughout the State.
Premier David Crisafulli set out which cities will host what events up and down the Sunshine State during the announcement on Tuesday.
Soccer will be hosted in Cairns and Townsville. Sailing will also be “co-hosted” in Townsville.
The hockey will be played at an upgraded centre on the Gold Coast, not at the Brisbane headquarters of Queensland Rugby Union as had been floated.
Originally published as ‘Absolutely mental’: Brisbane Olympic plans divide Australia
Change upends 116 years of Olympic history
As Brisbane announced its plans for the 2032 Olympics this week, Aussies are getting a taste of a new sport set to enter the Games.
Brissie Games like Sydney ‘on steroids’
The man charged with delivering the 2032 Brisbane Olympics has made a bold claim a day after the venues for the Games were locked in.