Brisbane 2032 venues blueprint: Surprise twist as croc-infested waters tipped to host event
Almost four years of political jousting and stalling plans will culminate on Tuesday in the Queensland government revealing its venues blueprint for Brisbane 2032.
Thanks to extensive digging done by Tim Arvier, 9News Queensland's political editor, several aspects of the plan are already public knowledge.
Some recommendations from a 100-day review commissioned by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli have been green-lit, while other recommendations have been rejected.
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Below are burning questions, and some answers, ahead of the Queensland government's highly anticipated announcement.
What's the plan for the main stadium?
Arvier said on Nine's Today on Monday that a new 60,000-seat stadium would be built at Victoria Park.
That stadium will host the athletics, including Gout Gout's pursuit of double Olympic gold, as well as Brisbane Lions matches and international cricket for decades.
Arvier also said the Gabba would likely be demolished at the completion of the Games.
The Queensland government is set to reveal its venues plan for Brisbane 2032. Getty
The athletics track graced by Cathy Freeman in her golden run at the Sydney 2000 Olympics was ripped up and planted at a warm-up athletics venue next door.
On the contrary, more than a decade on from London 2012, the venue dubbed London Stadium, which was built for the Games, is now a long-term venue for both West Ham United and athletics.
John Steffensen, the former Australian sprinting cult hero, wants the athletics track set to be installed at the new Victoria Park stadium to remain in the venue beyond the Games.
"I'd love to see a multi-purpose venue which includes track and field and has a permanent track within the facility," Steffensen told Wide World of Sports.
"That way, post the Games every sports lover and every kid who dreams to become an Olympian and become a champion in sport gets to live those memories. There will be great memories out of Brisbane 2032.
"Now that we've got a chance to design a stadium, with all the knowledge we have now about stadiums around the world, there should be a way to design a stadium where we maintain the track for future athletics use.
"Athletics is part of every sport in this country, whether you like it or not ... We've got to start looking at athletics as a foundation sport for soccer, AFL, basketball, rugby league and rugby union."
Where will swimming be held?
The federal government promised it would inject $2.5 billion into the construction of a new venue called Brisbane Live Arena, which was earmarked to stage a host of sports at the Games including swimming in a drop-in pool.
But Arvier said that plan had been axed "in the name of cost-cutting" and reported a new national aquatic centre would be built, possibly next to the incoming 60,000-seat stadium.
The national governing bodies for swimming, artistic swimming, water polo and diving co-signed and delivered a submission to the 100-day review in which they pleaded for a new $650 million national aquatic centre to be built at Victoria Park.
What happens to the $2.5 billion promised by the federal government remains to be seen.
An inside view of how Swimming Australia and its allies want the proposed national aquatic centre to look. Archipelago Architects
Will croc-infested waters really host rowing?
Crocodiles lurk in Rockhampton's Fitzroy River, but because of a decision described as "controversial" by Arvier, those waters will host Brisbane 2032 rowing.
"Crocs chasing rowers down a river," Nine's James Bracey remarked with a grin on Today. "Another day, another drama."
It was originally expected that Lake Wyaralong in Queensland's south-east would stage the rowing events.
The croc-infested Fitzroy River in Rockhampton will host Brisbane 2032 rowing. Getty
Where will tennis be staged?
Tennis Australia lobbied for Pat Rafter Arena to receive a $113 million upgrade. The governing body wants the venue to host Brisbane 2032 tennis and insists it would not be able to in its current condition.
But according to Arvier, the federal government wants tennis to be held at Melbourne Park.
Where will the athletes' village be?
Arvier said the Brisbane 2032 athletes' village would be built at the Brisbane Showgrounds.
The athletes' village will house more than 10,000 athletes and team officials for the Olympics, and more than 5000 for the Paralympics.
