Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Australian sports leaders given reassurances that other states will have chance to host events

Aussie sports fans could be forgiven for thinking that the 2032 Olympics were only taking place in the Sunshine State. However, reassurances have been made that at least two other states will be co-hosting the Games.

Australian sports leaders have been given reassurances other states will also be given the chance to host events during the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics even though Queensland officials neglected to acknowledge the rest of the country during their jingoistic venues launch.

Aussie sports fans could be forgiven for thinking that the 2032 Games were only taking place in the Sunshine State after Queensland politicians went into parochial overkill, waxing lyrical about their $7.1 billion infrastructure spending spree.

But what the government forgot to add was that at least two other Australian states, New South Wales and Victoria, and likely more, will also be co-hosting the Games as part of a long-standing agreement to leave a national footprint.

There’s nothing unusual about other states being involved - Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory were all included in the 2000 Sydney Olympics - but the absence of any mention by Queensland’s cheerleading politicians left seasoned Olympic observers second guessing whether they had simply forgotten their southern state partners exist or were reneging on their deal.

While organisers did not reply to questions why the other states were never spoken of, there’s no suggestion they could backflip on the signed agreements that were part of the original bid application.

There were a few heads left scratching after the Brisbane Olympics venues announcement. Picture: Adam Head

So while the majority of sports will still take place in Queensland, some will be spread around the nation, most notably the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chief executive Matt Carroll confirmed Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and Melbourne’s AAMI Park were locked in as host sites.

“Under the candidate documents, which includes the schedule of events, football is listed for Sydney and Melbourne, as well as Brisbane and regional Queensland,” he said.

“And if cricket became a sport (on the 2032 program), I’m sure the organising committee could look at that. But keep in mind the weather. The (2032) Games are in Winter.”

Patriotism aside, there’s an obvious carrot for organisers to share events with other states. It is because organisers get to keep all the profits from ticket sales so the bigger the stadium, the bigger the return.

“They get 100% ticket sales and their own sponsorship sales, merchandise sales, things like that. So ticket revenue is a very, very important source of revenue,” Carroll said.

“But there’s also the incentive just to involve the whole country. You look at France, they weren’t all in Paris, For Los Angeles, not all the events are in California.”

While sources said the contracts to stage events in other states had already been signed, that doesn’t mean other states can’t be involved and it’s no secret South Australia and Western Australia also want part of the action.

Soccer is the obvious solution because it features 58 matches, allowing organisers to hold preliminary games in other states and regional centres before switching to Brisbane for the medal matches.

Football is the obvious solution to incorporate all state and territories.

While Football Australia said the selection of venues was entirely up to the organisers, it was hopeful other states would be involved.

“As is the case with previous Olympic Games, we expect that football will be delivered across multiple states, which is both a practical and historical norm,” Football Australia said.

“Football Australia’s position has consistently been to ensure that Olympic football is hosted in a way that maximises exposure, provides the best fan experience, and is staged in the most accessible locations for Australians.”

But it wasn’t just states outside of Queensland that were left scratching their heads after this week’s venue announcement.

More than a dozen sports were not mentioned either, prompting some to ask organisers for an explanation.

While Brisbane 2032 officials have not made any public comment, sources said the sports and venues that were not mentioned have been told that’s because nothing has changed since the original bid was proposed.

That includes football being played in Sydney and Melbourne and Suncorp Stadium being used for Rugby Sevens and the football finals.

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President, Andrew Liveris said: “We have been handed a gift to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 – an event that will attract billions of viewers, millions of visitors, deliver generational economic and social benefits, and secure legacies for grassroots communities through to elite athletes.

“The time for talking has passed, let’s put the plan into place.”

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Australian sports leaders given reassurances that other states will have chance to host events