'Sad' twist as athletics left as 'big loser' of Brisbane 2032 venues plan

Olympian and respected commentator David Culbert has bemoaned that athletics is "the big loser" of the Brisbane 2032 venues blueprint as Australian Athletics' top brass laments the fact its sport will extract virtually no legacy benefit out of the Games.

But Culbert backed the Queensland government's decision to have a new 63,000-seat stadium built at Victoria Park, saying that was "the most sensible outcome".

The approval of a new stadium is an enormous win for both the AFL and Cricket Australia as the venue will host Brisbane Lions games and international cricket for decades, taking over from the dilapidated Gabba.

READ MORE: 'I was so scared': Murray lifts lid on Bennett relationship

READ MORE: Mass changes for Storm, Broncos star returns

READ MORE: Forgotten star's revival culminates in huge Shield final

Among the other significant winners of the blueprint are the governing bodies for swimming, artistic swimming, water polo and diving, as well as Tennis Australia.

On the contrary, it appears the only legacy benefit for athletics will come through the government's promise to upgrade some grassroots sports clubs, including Gin Gin Athletics Club and Bribie Districts Athletics Club.

Australian Athletics (AA) delivered a sharply worded statement on Tuesday afternoon, admitting it was "deeply disappointed" and calling for an "urgent meeting" with Queensland government officials.

Culbert made a priceless remark as he picked apart the plan unveiled by the David Crisafulli-led government.

"Gout Gout's statue will sit ready for Brisbane Lions fans to enjoy for decades to come!" he beamed with more than a hint of sarcasm in an interview with Wide World of Sports.

The reality is the Australian athletics fraternity is hurting.

"Athletics is the big loser as a sport from a legacy perspective, so that's disappointing for field and track fans, that's for sure. Too often athletics gets dudded," said Culbert, who represented Australia in long jump at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.

"Swimming deserves a new facility, and not just swimming, but water polo and diving — their own hallmark facility that can host world championships, et cetera.

"Now that's not really possible for athletics, but there needs to be a second-tier option so the sport can get benefit out of the Games. It doesn't happen enough. Swimming, hockey and tennis in particular have got some good legacy stuff out of this. What's in it for athletics other than 10 days of a nice stadium?

"That's sad news."

The AFL and Cricket Australia were quick to trumpet their approval of the blueprint on Tuesday afternoon.

"I can't wait for the roar of 60,000 screaming Queenslanders when the ball is bounced at the opening Lions game at Victoria Park," said AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon.

"We are absolutely delighted," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

"They're giggling," Culbert admitted.

"It is ironic. Not so much cricket, but the AFL do not like these major events coming to Australia in winter, whether it's an Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Asian Cup football, Rugby World Cup, et cetera, because they use the major stadiums.

"But they are geniuses at working behind the scenes to make sure that they get the most out of it when it does happen. So they work pretty strongly to stop it from happening, and then they work vigorously to make the most of it.

"And good luck to them. It's the number one sport [in Australia], it earns the biggest crowds, and clearly the Gabba's at the end of its life.

"From a legacy perspective for Brisbane and Queensland, it makes complete sense that you would build a major stadium for AFL and cricket to benefit from for decades after the Games."

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland's premier when Brisbane was announced as the host city in July 2021, said the Gabba would be demolished and rebuilt as the main stadium of the Games.

Steven Miles, Palaszczuk's successor, unveiled a different plan, declaring the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) would be upgraded to become the main stadium.

An independent review commissioned by Miles recommended a new stadium be built at Victoria Park which would become the main venue of the Games, and an independent review set in place by Crisafulli once he'd seized power in October last year gave the same recommendation.

Crisafulli originally insisted a new stadium would not be built, but backflipped on that promise when the review he commissioned suggested he take that path.

"I actually admire a politician who says, 'This is the right thing to do so I'm going to change my mind'," Culbert said.

"It doesn't happen enough from my point of view," he added with a laugh.

"It will give the Brisbane Olympics every chance of being a rip-roaring success.

"It's the most sensible outcome for the Games. For it to be successful it needed a central point, like Sydney had at Homebush ... To have athletics and swimming and enough room for activations relatively close to the city, and the athletes' village [in the same area], is the best thing for the success of the Games, no doubt."

Unlike bodies such as Swimming Australia, AA kept under wraps the submission it delivered to the review ordered by Crisafulli.

But AA opened up on what it wanted in its impassioned statement.

"We are deeply disappointed that today's announcement makes no mention of a lasting legacy for athletics," part of the statement said.

"... We have consistently advocated for a main stadium that showcases our athletes on the world stage, and we acknowledge that the new Victoria Park stadium with a capacity of 63,000 will achieve this.

"But there is more to this picture, beyond the 15 days of competition, about how athletics will be supported to thrive before and after 2032.

"The submission presented advocates for retaining the warm-up track as a permanent international-standard facility, and also suggested a fit-for-purpose upgrade to existing aging facilities, and there is no indication that either will be considered. In the review, the proposed warm-up area will be removed post Games and it is suggested that it will be converted to a cricket venue.

"... Australian Athletics is seeking an urgent meeting with the Queensland premier and minister for sport to better understand the detail behind today's announcement and to identify a path forward."