Brisbane 2032 Games: Olympic, Paralympic sports finalised together
For the first time in decades, the sports to be played at an Olympics will not be locked in seven years ahead, Andrew Liveris has confirmed.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The sports that will be contested at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will not be locked in until next year, the International Olympic Committee confirmed this morning.
The decision will be the first time in decades that the Olympic sports program is not locked in seven years before the Games.
But it will mean that, for the first time, the sports programs for both the Olympics and Paralympics will be finalised at the same time – a move welcomed this morning by Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris.
Mr Liveris said approving both sports programs in the same year was a sensible move in that it would streamline sport engagement and delivery processes for the 2032 Organising Committee.
“Following the Australian and Queensland Government’s confirmation on venues available for Games use, we will assess and update our venue master plan,” Mr Liveris said.
“(This will enable) alignment of our sport program for presentation and approval next year, and providing a lengthy runway of assurance for athletes to prepare ahead of the Games in 2032.
“We have had significant interest and conversations with a range of International Federations that want to be part of our Games in 2032 and we look forward to discussions continuing in the coming months.”
Separately, Brisbane will get to choose an additional showcase sport to be held in 2032 alongside the IOC’s core program.
Paris chose breakdancing, Los Angeles will host flag football and speculation is mounting Brisbane will choose cricket.
The showcase sport is aimed at demonstrating a host nation’s sporting prowess.
Cricket, with a significant following in Asia and the UK, fits the bill.
However, Brisbane has committed to a cap of 10,500 athletes for the Olympics and 4350 for the Paralympics – meaning the organising committee needs to consider how the showcase sport will affect the cap.
The additional sports will be proposed to the IOC after the core sports programme is finalised in 2026.
The decision not to lock sports in until next year was made overnight by the IOC’s executive board ahead of the organisation’s 144th session in Greece this week, where a new president will be voted in, with the frontrunners in the seven-candidate field understood to be former champion British runner Sebastian Coe, Zimbabwean ex-swimmer Kirsty Coventry, and Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr.
The vote to decide the 10th-ever IOC president – who will serve for an eight-year term – is due to begin about midnight Thursday Australian time, meaning we will wake to the news on Friday.
Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Games: Olympic, Paralympic sports finalised together
Wigs, cash and ‘dump button bingo’: Inside Brisbane’s craziest radio wars yet
From epic hide-and-seek cash games to dating shows and dump button bingo, this is how Brisbane’s radio stations are trying to win you over in the battle for ratings.
Will the Olympics lead to another Premier’s downfall?
Two Premiers have already been undone by the Olympics and only a flawless routine will stop it claiming David Crisafulli as well, writes Hayden Johnson.