‘Look like novices’: Aussie city embarrasses whole country

The International Olympic Committee has broken its own rules after Brisbane stuffed up in the lead up to the 2032 Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has thrown out its rulebook with the Brisbane 2032 planning committee falling well behind schedule.

Despite Brisbane being given the longest time in modern history to prepare to host the Games, the IOC has been forced to relax its seven-year deadline for the sports program to be agreed.

The update has left many concerned about the preparations and NRL great Corey Parker on Tuesday implored his home state to get its ducks in a row.

The decision was announced in Greece on Monday, where the IOC has congregated to select its new president.

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The Brisbane 2032 planning committee has now been granted an extra year, until 2026, for organisers to review and validate critical sporting infrastructure projects before agreeing on an in-principle sports program.

The latest issue adds to a long list of areas where the organising commitee and Queensland state government have been criticised locally and internationally.

The Brisbane Games have also been a problem for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the Federal Government announced it will splurge $3.435 billion as part of a $7 billion funding agreement reached with the future Olympic state.

A rebuild of the Gabba was originally proposed as the centrepiece of the Games, but that idea was later rejected.

Building a brand new stadium and precinct at Victoria Park has also been put forward as an option, as has Brisbane solely using existing structures such as Suncorp Stadium and Queensland’s Sports and Athletic Centre – the main venue for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

Brisbane celebrated itw winning bid in 2018. Photo by Bai Xuefei/Xinhua via Getty Images.

The Olympic rings in Brisbane and a propsed Olympics venue in 2032. Photo: Getty and supplied.

New Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has promised to unveil a final blueprint of the infrastructure plan next week after conducting a 100-day review upon winning office in October.

However, the delay, which is largely due to political indecision is an embarrassing blight on the Brisbane Games.

And Queensland legend Parker has urged the planning committee to not “stuff up” the major opportunity to make Australia shine on the world stage.

“I said a number of weeks ago, we’ve got an opportunity to put ourselves on the world stage. Don’t stuff it up,” Parker said on SENQ.

“Don’t stuff it up. We look like novices at the moment, the way we’ve been carrying on.”

Corey Parker has urged the Brisbane Olympics planning committee to not stuff it up. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Parker’s comments come as the IOC agreed to the extension for the Brisbane Games’ sports program.

The IOC statement on the matter read: “As per Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter, the sports program for a specific edition of the Olympic Games is decided by the IOC Session in principle seven years before the Games unless the IOC EB decides otherwise.

“Following discussions between the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee and the IOC, it was agreed that it would be beneficial if the initial sports program decision were to be finalised next year, which would be approximately six years prior to the Olympic Games.”

Brisbane Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris put a positive spin on the news saying it meant the Olympic and Paralympic sports programs could be done together for the first time.

David Crisafulli has promised to unveil a final blueprint of the Brisbane Olympics infrastructure plan next week. Image: David Clark

 “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.”

Brisbane will also be able to choose an additional showcase sport to be held in 2032 alongside the IOC’s core program.

Paris went with the highly controversial and much-ridiculed breakdancing, while Los Angeles has opted to go with flag football.

The additional sport for the Brisbane Games will be proposed to the IOC after the core program is finalised.

Cricket, led by the International Cricket Council (ICC), is among several sports that have publicly declared interest in winning a spot at Brisbane 2032, while squash and netball have also been touted.

Originally published as ‘Look like novices’: Aussie city embarrasses whole country