Titmus, McKeown, Nunn: Olympic champions who must be honoured at Brisbane Games monument

There’s been scores of Olympic venues announced across the state but one more is needed to give it an everlasting soul, which could honour some of Australia’s greatest ever athletes.

Some of Queensland's Olympic and Paralympic champions who could be honoured should a phyisal Queensland sporting museum be built (clockwise, from top left): Glynis Nunn, Ariarne Titmus, Kaylee McKeown, Matthew Mitcham and Rowan Crothers.

It was a random question from former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk five years ago that confirmed the harsh reality that a large group of Queensland sports legends were “homeless’’.

Palaszczuk was talking to the then boss of QSport Peter Cummiskey about the organisations’ annual awards dinner featuring the induction of new hall of fame members when she asked “where is the actual hall of fame?’’

Cummiskey replied: “It’s actually in my computer ... it’s on our website. That’s it.’’

Palaszczuk was surprised the hall of fame, with legends such as Greg Norman, Allan Border and Pat Rafter, has no physical home.

The 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games provided the opportunity to not simply address this shortcoming, but take it to another level.

Former Queensland and Australian cricket captain Allan Border. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A Queensland Olympic sports museum is the legacy feature begging to be built to enshrine Olympic memories and give a long overdue home to local legends who have been inducted into Queensland’s hall of fame.

The Olympic and local legends – some like Olympic heptathlon champion Glynis Nunn belong in both camps – could be showcased side by side and be a major drawcard for tourists.

“I am bang up for this and would have it at the new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park or at Southbank which gets a lot of foot traffic and has always been very connected to the maturing of the city,’’ Olympic gold medal swimmer Duncan Armstrong said.

Olympic Games won gold in the 200m freestyle at the Seoul Olympics.

“Enough Queenslanders fill up hall of fames around the country. Why not have one in Brisbane?

“The Melbourne Cricket Ground (sports museum) does it beautifully by embracing the Olympics, cricket and the AFL so we could learn from that.

“There will be a lot of arguing coming up as there always is when new things get built but this could be a happy news story.’’

Though he has retired from his role at QSport, Cummiskey continues to campaign for a hall of fame behind the scenes and confirmed that there were talks with both major parties before the last state election.

So far there has been no progress but momentum is building.

Steve Titmus, father of pool queen Ariarne, said: “I love the idea. It would be a shrine which would inspire young people to achieve greatness. I remember taking Arnie to the Sydney Olympic pool and she stood on the gold medal dais and it was a really inspiring moment for her.’’

Paris does not need an Olympic museum because it has countless iconic landmarks. Nor does London.

But the Games will be the most famous thing that ever happens to Brisbane and the city has the chance to enshrine its greatest moment.

Titmus said an Olympic museum could contain all sorts of exotic features.

“I think it could be interactive where you could have Gout Gout running along a wall and you can run against him. I love it.’’

Originally published as Titmus, McKeown, Nunn: Olympic champions who must be honoured at Brisbane Games monument