How Cairns could take part in 2032 Olympics

Cairns is shaping as the possible host city of signature events for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, triggering new infrastructure and upgraded venues in a major win for the city. VOTE IN OUR POLL.

The proposed upgrade of Cazalys Stadium will increase its seating capacity from 13,500 to 20,000. Image: Cox Architecture

Cairns is shaping as the possible host city of signature events for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, triggering new infrastructure and upgraded venues in a major win for the city.

Momentum is building ahead of Premier David Crisafulli releasing the Olympic venues and infrastructure plan on March 25 for more events to be shared across regional Queensland.

A push is on for Cairns to be locked in as the host city for cricket and the Olympic triathlon.

With pristine winter conditions, a proposed upgrade of Cairns’ biggest stadium and status as an athlete-favourite, Cairns is the perfect co-host city for the 2032 Olympics soccer and triathlon events, according to local leaders.

Barlow Park is earmarked to host the 2032 Olympics’ preliminary football matches, following a $91m upgrade for the venue, announced in 2024.

However, following the inclusion of cricket in the LA 2028 Olympics program for the first since 1900, some are calling for Cazalys stadium to be the Olympic cricket host for the 2032 Brisbane Games.

“The surface is one of the best in the world,” Craig Lees, General Manager of AFL Cairns, which owns Cazalys stadium, said.

“It’s just such a good venue because you’ve got such a good, family-friendly atmosphere, and the weather — it’s always good conditions.”

“Looking at the sun setting over the Lamb range and the stadium is just picturesque,” Craig Lees said. Image: Cox Architecture

In 2024, AFL Cairns launched a self-funded masterplan for an upgrade to Cazalys, which it submitted to the Queensland Government’s 100-day review of planning and infrastructure for the 2032 Games.

The proposed upgrades include increasing the seating capacity of the venue to 20,000, ideal for Olympic-sized audiences.

But with the inclusion of other amenities such as an adjacent sports centre with a swimming pool and basketball stadium, Mr Lees said the proposed upgrade would ensure Cazalys could not only host Olympic events but a range of “diverse content” in the future, including AFL games, concerts and other community events.

“We’ve missed out on far too much content in the past,” Mr Lees said. “So we’ll do what we can to advocate for any opportunities in the future.”

Cricket Far North president Dan Freebody said the organisation believed Olympic cricket at Cazalys “would be fantastic for our region”.

“The outfield is just sublime. It is a world-class outfield, that’s for sure,” Mr Freebody said.

“When we’ve had international games in the past, the players always comment on how pristine the outfield is.”

It comes as international cricket may be hosted at Cazalys in August after it was announced that South Africa is touring Northern Australia in August 2025.

Cairns was surveyed as a potential host city for the tour but no grounds have been announced yet.

Off the sports field, the pristine beaches, tropical climate and scenic roads of the Far North make it a popular spot for outdoor events such as triathlons.

Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said given the continued success of IRONMAN Cairns, holding the 2032 Olympics triathlon in Cairns would be a “great idea.”

“That (IRONMAN) bike ride to Port Douglas and back is just beautiful,” Mr Olds said.

“It’s one of the best rides in the world, and then they get to finish that run on the Cairns Esplanade and everyone’s there.”

In the IRONMAN Athletes’ Choice Awards 2024, IRONMAN Cairns was voted number one in Oceania and third globally for “overall satisfaction.”

It also came out on top for best swim and best run in Oceania, and third place for the best bike leg.

“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take, so let’s take a few shots,” Mr Olds said of bidding for Cairns Olympic events. Picture: Tim Bardsley-Smith

“When I was young, it was places like Cairns we went to for the heat and the humidity (training),” former Olympic runner Jill Boltz said, who operates FNQ running group Pace Project.

“So if we did have an event here it would draw a lot more athletes to come to train here. It would have a huge knock-on effect,” Ms Boltz said.

Some said the benefits of Olympic events in Cairns would go beyond economic gains for the community.

“(They’re) obviously great for our region, but also to try and help us improve our junior (cricket) numbers and number of players across board,” Dan Freebody said.

“When kids go and watch their heroes play in a World Cup or whatever, it obviously triggers their want to play.”

Cairns Regional Council Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said “in the big cities, they (kids) can go to sporting events every weekend, whether it’s cricket, netball , rugby, soccer, anything. But in Cairns, in regional towns, our kids don’t get to go watch their heroes and the best athletes in the world do what they do.

“So not only is this good as an economic driver for our community, but having our kids turn up and watch these Olympians, in their own backyard, inspires them.

“I don’t think you can quantify that in economic terms, you know, what that means.”

Originally published as How Cairns could take part in 2032 Olympics