Gabba's swan-song: Olympic venues finally confirmed

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed that a new 60,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park will be the centrepiece of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Speaking alongside Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie at The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane Lunch, Crisafulli also confirmed a surprise addition to the event plans in the form of an upgraded 20,000-seat RNA stadium.

The new construction at Victoria Park will also see a 25,000-seat National Aquatic Centre.

“The aquatics centre will see a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports move their headquarters up to Brisbane, permanently, a real world-class legacy which will serve these sports for decades to come,” he said.

“It will be constructed at Centenary Pool, and that has the backing of diving, artistic swimming, water polo and swimming Australia.

“That’s delivering a legacy for the future, and I confirm it will be the best Aquatic Centre in the globe.”

It was also confirmed that the tennis tournament would remain in Queensland amid reports it could have been hosted at Melbourne Park. The Queensland Tennis Centre will undergo a transformation that includes a new 3,000-seat show court.

Despite concerns about crocodiles, rowing will take place at Rockhampton while sailing will be staged in the Whitsundays.

Football and Basketball will be played in Cairns while Townsville will co-host the football and sailing. Toowoomba Showgrounds will be transformed into an equestrian centre of excellence.

There will be athlete villages in Brisbane and the Gold Coast which will also play host to hockey and triathlon.

“While the final make-up of sports will be determined next year, we have the venues and a plan to deliver a world-class Games," Crisafulli said.

“We were not in office when the Games were awarded in 2021 but we are the government Queenslanders have tasked with delivering it and deliver it we will and it will be a Games that Queensland will be proud of.

“The certainty and investment driven by a united Queensland, working together to implement this plan, will create generational opportunity.”

While cricket is yet to be confirmed as a sport included in the 2032 Games, the plan is for the gold medal match to be played at the Gabba which will double as the stadium’s swansong.