Winners and losers from Brisbane 2032 venue plan announcement

Nearly four years after Brisbane was awarded the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games the city has finally announced a venue and infrastructure plan, which has pleased some sports and angered others

Aquatics, cricket and hockey were among the main winners, and athletics, football and rowing the losers, as the Queensland Government finally unveiled its venue and infrastructure plan for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympics in Brisbane.

A new 63,000-seat AUD$3.78 billion stadium in Victoria Park will be built, as we had previously reported, to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, plus the athletics, it was announced by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli as he published the 2032 Delivery Plan and Beyond. After the Games it will be repurposed to become the city’s new cricket ground and also the future home of the Australian Football League team Brisbane Lions.

A concerted campaign by Australia’s aquatics sports to ensure a legacy from Brisbane 2032 paid off with the announcement of a new AUD$650 million 25,000-seat National Aquatic Centre at the existing Centenary Pool at Spring Hill. The original plan had been to use a drop-in pool at the Brisbane Live Arena, which has now been scrapped.