Brisbane Olympic Games planning mess prompts IOC to delay confirmation of initial sports program
The political stoush that's derailed planning for Brisbane 2032 has prompted the International Olympic Committee to delay by one year confirmation of the initial sports program.
The IOC typically decides on the program for each Games seven years out, but it was agreed at a meeting in Greece on Tuesday that a call on the Brisbane Olympics would not be made until 2026.
The IOC said in a statement that the postponement had bought additional time for Brisbane 2032 organisers to sure up their venues and infrastructure plan.
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On March 25, the findings of a 100-day review into venues and infrastructure will be announced by the Queensland government, putting an end to uncertainty over whether a new $3.4 billion stadium will be built at Victoria Park and whether the wish of the national governing aquatic bodies for a new $650 million centre of excellence will be granted.
The reveal will also confirm if Pat Rafter Arena will receive a $113 million upgrade or whether Tennis Australia's plea will fail and result in tennis being staged at Melbourne Park.
An inside view of how Swimming Australia and its allies want the proposed aquatic centre to look. Archipelago Architects
The 100-day review commissioned by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli follows the 60-day venues and infrastructure review set in place by his predecessor, Steven Miles, who called upon former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to put forward recommendations.
Quirk recommended a new $3.4 billion stadium be built at Victoria Park to host athletics during the Games as well as Brisbane Lions matches and international cricket for decades to come.
Miles rejected that recommendation as Queenslanders prepared to head to the polls, declaring: "When Queenslanders are struggling with other costs, I cannot justify spending $3.4 billion on a new stadium. I'm ruling that out".
The former premier pledged to instead invest $1.6 million into upgrading Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Nathan — the venue that hosted track and field at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
Miles' stance drew widespread criticism and followed a different plan put forward by his predecessor, Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said the Gabba would be demolished and rebuilt in a $1 billion project.
On a date yet to be decided, the Brisbane 2032 organising committee will have a chance to propose to the IOC new sports for potential inclusion.
In an interview with Wide World of Sports last month, John Baker, the president of Surf Life Saving Australia and a board director with the International Life Saving Federation, said the outcome of surf life saving's bid would likely not be known until 2028.
