Toowoomba Olympics explainer: Your questions answered on 2032 equestrian

Want to know where athletes will stay, where horses will be quarantined, if we will host any other events and just how we secured Olympic equestrian? Here are all of your questions answered.

Following Tuesday’s historic announcement Toowoomba will hosts all equestrian events for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, we’re sure you have a lot of questions.

And we’ve got plenty of answers.

How did we get here?

Following the election of the Crisafulli government in October, there was a 100-day review of Olympic events and venues for the 2032 Brisbane Games. The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland joined forces with the Toowoomba Regional Council to submit a master plan and business case for an Equestrian Centre of Excellence at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, with a view to host Olympic equestria events.

Although this document was submitted for Olympics consideration in December, the plan to upgrade equestrian facilities has long been on the agenda.

How long has equestrian been on the cards for Toowoomba?

Since the Brisbane Olympics announcement in July 2021, some of the most influential organisations across Toowoomba have been calling for the city to get a slice of the Olympics action. The master plan for the Equestrian Centre of Excellence dates back to 2023, and the RASQ has long said it planned to forge ahead with the upgrades, regardless of the outcome of any Olympic bidding.

However, prior to the government change back in October, it seemed like our Olympic dream was mostly over.

Who has decided where the equestrian will be held?

Upon the election of the state government, David Crisafulli announced a 100-day review of infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. This report, which was handed to the government on March 8, was completed by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority – a seven-person board established in November 2024 and chaired by Steven Conry.

Mr Crisafulli said he would accept the findings of the Authority, and did so when he released the report at a Future Brisbane event on Tuesday, March 25.

Why has the state government picked Toowoomba to host the equestrian?

In a word – legacy. There has been a renewed focus on Olympics creating lasting impacts for the cities and regions where they are held, and was a large reason for Brisbane’s success in the bid. According to the review, the venue upgrades would allow for other large-scale equestrian events to be held in Toowoomba, separate to the Olympics. The report also highlighted the lasting tourism legacy the region would receive.

Are there any other reasons to move the equestrian from Brisbane?

The announcement of Victoria Park as the main Games venue has also created a logistics issue for the horse events. This area had previously been flagged to host cross-country equestrian in a temporary capacity. The new arena means this event has to be moved.

Was the equestrian going to be held anywhere else?

The RNA Showgrounds had been flagged to host the other equestrian events.

How will the showgrounds be upgraded to accommodate Olympic events?

The Toowoomba Showgrounds will be subject to significant upgrades in the coming years to facilitate the Olympics. Those upgrades include additional arenas, warm-up facilities, upgraded stables, and an upgraded cross-country course.

How much will this all cost? And who is paying?

Initial estimates have said the number is about $54 million, but there is speculation that number could be higher. The upgrades will be paid for in a partnership between the state and federal governments.

When will work at the Toowoomba Showgrounds begin?

Some of that work has already started. Back at an Olympics breakfast in February, RASQ CEO Damon Phillips confirmed work on the new stables had made significant progress. But the scale of the work was also not undersold – once the Toowoomba Royal Show is over, the shovels are expected to hit the ground.

When will that work be done?

While no firm date is in, it has been noted that the RASQ wants the upgrades finished years before 2032, to get some large-scale events under its belt and the grounds tried and tested for the Olympics.

Where will the athletes stay while the Olympics is on?

The controversial Wellcamp Quarantine Facility will come back to life in 2032. It has been flagged as a “satellite athletes village”. The 1000-bed facility has been earmarked to host both the equestrian athletes and officials.

The facility is about 12km away from the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

How will athletes and spectators travel to the Toowoomba Showgrounds?

While the formal plan is understandably a little hazy at this early stage, the report also highlights how people will be taken to and from the showgrounds. The 100-day review mentions a combination of “bus shuttle, active travel and private transport vehicles”.

Part of the plan includes “park ‘n’ ride facilities” across Toowoomba that connect to a central transit hub at the showgrounds.

Does this mean a passenger rail could be back on the cards?

It appears not.

Will Toowoomba host any other Olympic sports?

Initially the Toowoomba Sports Ground was flagged for upgrades to host football preliminary matches, but this is now dead in the water.

What happened there?

The plan to upgrade the stadium was the source of great controversy at the time, as the move would have displaced the surrounding tennis, bowls and croquet club. In a Sport Venue Review released in 2024, it was recommended that the upgrades “do not proceed” and “other opportunities” were explored around the Olympics.

So where are the football prelims going?

Barlow Park Stadium in Cairns will now be upgraded to host these matches. Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, home of the Cowboys, will also host preliminaries.

Do horses need to be quarantined and where will that happen?

This is the big question mark for the Olympics. Equestrian is unique in that the equine competitors require quarantine before competition. As per the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, all horses imported into Australia from approved countries other than New Zealand and New Caledonia need to complete a minimum of 14 days post-arrival quarantine.

The Wagners have previously proposed to build an animal quarantine facility, much like the federal government’s current facility in Mickleham. And this won’t be without its challenges – a DAFF spokeswoman in 2023 said there was an “extensive” list of criteria that needed to be met to have such a facility accredited.

For now, the report says that an “equine quarantine biosecurity protocol will need to be developed in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry”.

Were any other venues considered for the equestrian?

Equestrian became one of the hot bids across the southeast as the review took place. After RASQ submitted its plans for Toowoomba, both the RNA Showgrounds and the Gold Coast Turf Club hit back, saying their respective facilities were best placed to host the prestigious Olympic event.