After a delay in announcing the competing sports in the 2032 Olympics by 12 months until 2026 and a promise to unveil the main venue next week, Brisbane may face another difficulty on the road to the games with a protest rally to be held today to oppose a possible 60,000 seat Olympic stadium at inner-city Victoria Park after rumours that it might be the long-awaited answer to the thorny venue question.
Andrew Liveris, President of the Brisbane Organising Committee for 2032 has assured the International Olympic Committee that they will deliver a positive way forward among speculation in the media that a Commonwealth-backed Brisbane Arena in the CBD may be scrapped in favor of the conversion of Victoria Park into a venue. The opposition to this plan is expected to turn into a protest rally today.
There have been reports that there is a push for the swimming events to be held at the Brisbane Live Arena, and at a proposed new site next to the Gabba, but until there is an official announcement, it is understood that the government is still considering all options.
Nevertheless, campaigners including former premier Campbell Newman have sent a letter to the Queensland government claiming Brisbane would be embarrassed on the world stage if it “destroyed” heritage-listed Victoria Park to build a stadium, especially as Queensland Premier David Crisafulli had initially insisted no new stadiums would be built for the 2032 Olympics after winning the 2024 election.
Organisers also told the committee that Brisbane 2032 emblems would be revealed in 2026, along with the much-anticipated sports program.