Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll says Gabba just needs a ‘coat of paint’ to host 2032 Games

Australia’s Olympic boss has distanced himself from comments made earlier today that the Gabba just needs “a coat of paint” to be able to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The redevelopment of the Gabba is expected to cost $2.7bn.

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The Australian Olympic Committee has been forced to clarify its position on the $2.7 billion Gabba redevelopment, after its CEO Matt Carroll earlier today suggested all it needed was “a coat of paint”.

In a follow up statement, Mr Carroll said the AOC supported the redevelopment and that position had not changed.

“The redevelopment sits within the IOC’s New Norm parameters along with other projects that will deliver a long term benefit to the Queensland community, such as community sports centres,” he said.

“The AOC has long maintained the Gabba redevelopment will largely benefit the Brisbane Lions and cricket – with the stadium to used for a month to host Olympic and Paralympic Games events.”

Earlier, speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Mr Carroll said it was the cricket and AFL which would benefit from the upgrade.

“The Olympics and Paralympics will use it for a month. They could just give it a coat of paint,” Mr Carroll said.

“Those sports will be the beneficiaries of a rebuild of the Gabba.”

Speaking at the National Press Club, Mr Carroll made an appeal to the Federal Government for a $2 billion investment in sport over the next 10 years, saying, “the Brisbane Games will not be a success if the Australian teams are not successful”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in April 2021 that the redevelopment would cost $1bn, a figure Queensland Auditor-General Brendan Worrall told a parliamentary committee came “from a press release”.

Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Matt Carroll at the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

But last month Ms Palaszczuk announced, alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, said that the Gabba would be demolished and rebuilt for $2.7bn – 170 per cent more – with the state government set to foot the bill.

Mr Carroll said the Games being hosted in Australia meant it could “turbo charge” investment in sport and sporting facilities, including for the community.

“The other facility which is they’re building in Queensland, particularly the indoor sport facilities in various suburbs across southeast Queensland, Australia’s fastest-growing population, are needed for the people,” Mr Carroll said.

“This investment in infrastructure is not just for the Olympic Games. We’re going to use them but they are there for the community.

“Without those infrastructure builds, particularly in the community sports, we won’t get what we’re looking for – more kids playing sport. They’ve gotta be able to play somewhere.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Mr Carroll said without the $2 billion investment in sport, increased funding for the Australian Institute of Sport, a federal department of sport and the Sports Minister promoted into Cabinet, the success of the Brisbane Games was at risk.

“Unless the situation is rectified, Australia will be staring failure in the face of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, because our home teams will have been undermined by inaction. The time starts now,” he said.

“The Brisbane Games will not be a success if the Australian teams are not successful.

“The Olympic flame is going to be lit in July 2032. That date will not shift, you can’t put it off, it will not go away.

“Ready or not, you’ve got to be there.”

Originally published as Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll says Gabba just needs a ‘coat of paint’ to host 2032 Games