Olympics 2032 Plan Unveiled: New Stadium in the City, Olympic Action Across the State

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli revealed the LNP governments new plan for the 2032 Olympics with a focus on the regions.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie (L) and Premier David Crisafulli arrive to talk to media after being sworn in at Government House in Brisbane, Australia, on Oct. 28, 2024. AAP Image/Jono Searle

The north inner-city Brisbane suburb of Victoria Park will be home to a new 60,000-seat Olympic stadium, Premier David Crisafulli has announced.

The move scraps the revised plan under the previous government to use the old Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre—located 30 minutes from the CBD—for the 2032 Olympics’ Opening Ceremony.

In a long-awaited announcement on March 25, Crisafulli unveiled the masterplan for Brisbane 2032, which will see more of the games’ events spread across regional Queensland with an emphasis on legacy.

“The time has come to just get on with it and get on with it we will,” he told reporters.

The Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority met with stakeholders and reviewed thousands of submissions to form the basis for the LNP government’s plan.

“There has been a mountain of work and there’s no one else I would have wanted driving that but the Deputy Premier [Jarrod Bleijie],” Crisafulli said.

A general view is seen as "BNE 2032" is displayed on a building in Brisbane, Australia, on July 21, 2021. Albert Perez/Getty Images

What’s In the Plan?

The centrepiece of the plan is a brand new 60,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park, currently a public golf course, and it will be the future home for games like cricket and AFL.

“In the end the choice was clear, the games must be held at a new stadium at Victoria Park,” Crisafulli said.

A new National Aquatic Centre with a 25,000-seat capacity will also be constructed at Centenary Pool near Victoria Park, and will be a permanent structure.

“That’s delivering legacy for the future and I confirm it will be the best aquatic centre in the globe,” Crisafulli said.

The RNA Showgrounds will also receive an upgrade including a 20,000 seat outdoor arena, and will “give new life” to the EKKA Royal Queensland Show.

Meanwhile, the premier rebuffed rumours of moving tennis events to Melbourne, and instead announced the Queensland Tennis Centre would include a 3,000-seat show court arena, and 12 new match courts that will “bring new tournaments” to Brisbane.

The premier also announced that the slated indoor “Brisbane Live” arena, supposed to host future concerts, would instead by moved to the former Goprint site next to the Gabba stadium, and will instead by led by private sector investment.

The Gabba itself would also make way for urban renewal.

New indoor sports centres will be built in Logan and Moreton Bay, and a new whitewater rafting centre originally slated for the Redlands will continue.

For the South East Corner

The premier also promised upgrades to road and rail infrastructure to link up the major cities in the state.

Gold Coast’s Royal Pines will be home to an athletes village and a new arena.

Crisafulli also said there would be upgrades to the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

The inland city of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, will see its showgrounds transformed into an Equestrian Centre of Excellence, and that will host the Olympic equestrian events.

The Sunshine Coast will receive a direct rail line from Beerwah to Birtinya, called “The Wave,” that also links to the airport and Maroochydore CBD.

This CBD will also receive an athletes village and a new arena in a cultural precinct.

What About the Regions?

Rowing, which had been considered for Sydney, will be held in Rockhampton, while football, basketball and possibly cricket will be moved to Cairns.

Townsville will host football and sailing, along with the Whitsundays, while Mackay will be a possible location for cricket should it be included in the games.

“If investment comes from across the state, benefits should be spread across the state,” Crisafulli said.

“The 2032 games to regional Queensland, some say it can’t be done, I say, ‘Yes it can and lets get on with it,’” he said.

The heritage city of Maryborough will host archery.

“(The plan) must deliver generational infrastructure to make this state a better one, before, during and after the Olympics,” Crisafulli said.

An athletes’ village in Rockhampton will later become much-needed residential housing, while widespread exposure of the state is set to kick-start the government’s 20-year plan for tourism.

Olympic medals will also be made with locally produced minerals.

“When the eyes of the world turn to Queensland let them see the great people that call this state home,” Crisafulli said.

“That’s what will make the games great.

“We promised to sort it out, we promised to do the work, we promised a detailed plan, we promised to fix the mess and we have.”

Criticism From Opposition

Former premier and current state Opposition Leader Steven Miles criticised the announcement, saying the Crisafulli government had not kept its word.

“David Crisafulli breaks his no new stadium promise—announcing a stadium in Victoria Park,” he said on X.

“Today he announced he will build a new stadium in Victoria Park.”

Crisafulli had previously told ABC radio he had not planned on building a new stadium.