When to expect works to start on new Brisbane 2032 venues

With the clock ticking on Olympics preparation, top 2032 Games officials have revealed when to expect Brisbane to break ground on new venues like Victoria Park.

The National Aquatics Centre in Spring Hill, Victoria Park and bottom left the City of Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre are among new venues for the 2032 Games.

Top 2032 Games officials expect Brisbane to break ground on new venues like Victoria Park by the end of next year if they are to be completed in time for pre-event testing.

The International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032 wrapped up a week of meetings on Thursday outlining their expectations around key milestones over the next seven years.

Commission members also visited venue sites and landmarks including Victoria Park, South Bank, Suncorp and People First Stadiums, Kurrawa Beach and Howard Smith Wharves.

Incoming IOC president-elect Kirsty Coventry even took time out to visit family who live on the Gold Coast.

International Olympic Committee president-elect Kirsty Coventry in Brisbane. Picture: Patrick Hamilton/AFP

New Commission Chair Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, a former equestrian athlete who trained in Brisbane and represented the Philippines internationally, said she expected a lot of 2032 progress to be made before LA2028.

“I’d say venues – that they be not just finalised, but broken ground and already making a lot of progress,” Mrs Jaworski.

“Sport program (finalised), of course, emblems and vision, which is going to come a lot sooner than three years.”

It’s understood the final selection of sports hoping to be included, such as cricket and surfing, could be finalised as early as July next year.

Mrs Jaworski also revealed there had be some discussions about potential mascots, with a pineapple or koala among the early ideas.

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris said he was relieved at the amount of progress that had been made in the 58 days since the 2032 Delivery Plan was released.

He said the job now was to “create certainty out of this plan”.

Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, Andrew Liveris and Cindy Hook at Suncorp. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“We’re not out of the woods completely, but we are mostly out of the woods, and we have certainty around some pretty big decisions,” he said.

COMPLETE THE BRISBANE 2032 SURVEY HERE

“We need the venues well in ahead of 2032, to state the obvious. In an ideal world, 12 months of use before.

“I don’t think you’re going to see shovels in the ground on a lot of these the bigger ones till next year, late next year.”

The Olympic Co-ordination Commission event at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

One major uncertainty remains - the reallocation of the federal government’s $2.5b for Brisbane Arena, money the state wants to use to pay for other venues.

Deputy Prime Minster Richard Marles said a new agreement with the state government was still being worked through.

Book your seat now for The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane 2025 event

“We are working hand in glove with the Queensland Government to ensure the delivery of a fantastic Olympics in 2032,” he said.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King this week said further information on 2032 venue costings was wanted.

Originally published as When to expect works to start on new Brisbane 2032 venues