The Sunshine Capital has officially won the bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games!
Here’s everything we know about the Brisbane Olympics so far…
When are the next Olympics?
After the 2020 Olympics, held in Tokyo, Japan in 2021, the next Games will be in Paris, France in 2024. This will be followed by the 2028 Olympics, hosted by Los Angeles, USA.
When are the Brisbane Olympics?
Mark your calendars! The 2032 Olympic Games will be held in Brisbane from 23 July to 8 August 2032.
How was Brisbane chosen to host the Olympics 2032?
On 21 July 2021, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Brisbane as the winning bidder to host the 2032 Olympics. There is a strict and precise bidding process cities must undergo if they’d like to be considered to host the Olympics. This includes submitting a proposal explaining why their location should be selected.
Creating a proposal and a bid is a lengthy and expensive process for potential host cities. To avoid wasting time and money, the IOC reviews promising candidates and selects a ‘preferred candidate’ a few months before the official decision. This means other candidates have the opportunity to withdraw their proposals, as it’s unlikely they would be chosen as host.
Brisbane was announced as the ‘preferred candidate’ in February 2021. The city worked collaboratively with the IOC to develop a proposal that addressed key requirements and concerns. The IOC described Brisbane’s campaign as “A passion-driven offer from a sports-loving nation that has sent athletes to every edition of the modern Olympic Games and nearly every edition of the Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games”.
While hosting an Olympics is a huge honour for the host city, it also requires considerable expenditure in preparation. Accommodation for athletes and spectators, sprawling athletic stadiums and facilities, and public transport generally need to be updated or built from scratch. However, having hosted other significant events, Brisbane already has 84 per cent of the stadiums and event venues required to host the 2032 Olympics. This means they do not need to spend excessive amounts to prepare the city.
Brisbane’s climate is also favourable for sporting events. The average temperature for July and August hovers around 22 degrees Celsius.
Has Brisbane hosted the Olympics before?
Brisbane 2032 will be the third time Australia has hosted the Olympics. The country first welcomed the sporting world to its shores in 1956 when Melbourne hosted the Games. Sydney was next, winning the bid for the 2000 Olympic Games. Now, Brisbane promises to build on the success and innovation shown by Melbourne and Sydney in 2032.
Although this is Brisbane’s first time hosting the Olympic Games, it’s not the state of Queensland’s first time hosting a significant sporting event. The 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast was hugely successful. It was also the first time a major multi-sport had an equal number of female and male athletes!
What will the Brisbane 2032 Olympics look like?
Paris has announced their intention of involving the entire city in Olympic proceedings when they host the games in 2024. There may be plans to float athletes down the Seine River in the Opening Ceremony, meaning even those without tickets can enjoy the spectacle. In addition, there are intentions to open the official marathon course and invite the community to run it, just hours after the Olympians run and are on their way up to the podium.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner indicates there are opportunities for Brisbane to implement a similar strategy as Paris. They will look at allowing non-ticket holders to experience the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The goal is to put the spotlight on Brisbane as a unique city, in comparison to the ‘megacities’ of the past.
Ishani Senanayake, an international student and swimmer from Sri Lanka, currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at CQU, was nominated for training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her experiences studying in Queensland make her confident the 2032 Olympics will be an incredible event.
“Brisbane has the facilities needed to strive in making the 2032 Olympics an unforgettable experience,” she shares. “Within Queensland, there are already experienced exercise and sports scientists who are masters within their field who are given the opportunity to work with and progress the sporting performance of future elite athletes.”
With the IOC focusing on sustainability, and conscious reduction of the Games’ ‘legacy of white elephants’ — underused structures left after the event — they are keen to avoid host cities undergoing extensive construction to prepare for the Olympics. Therefore, the Brisbane 2032 Olympics will differ from previous years as the events will be predominately held in existing structures like the Brisbane Cricket Ground — affectionately known as ‘The Gabba’.
Olympic events will be held in over 30 venues across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, and Redlands. Brisbane and the Gold Coast will be home to the two to-be-constructed athlete villages.
Can I attend the 2032 Olympics?
The sports-lovers among us may already be planning their trip to Australia in 2032! While no ticket information has been released yet, you can keep an eye on the Olympics website for first-hand news.
Brisbane is a much smaller city than previous Olympics host cities. We recommended booking your accommodation as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
When are the Brisbane Paralympics?
The 2032 Paralympics will be held immediately after the Olympics; which conclude on 8 August 2032.
In the meantime, want to learn more about Brisbane? Here’s all you need to know about studying and living in the Sunshine Capital.
