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Today marks the first day of Brisbane and Australia’s Green and Gold Runway into the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2032.
In exactly ten years’ time the Opening Ceremony of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will be held, however the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) believes we can start to enjoy the Games’ benefits immediately.
AOC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Matt Carroll says there’s no need to wait ten years when so much is happening from today forward.
“Our Time Starts Now. That’s how we look at the incredible opportunities over the next decade,” Mr Carroll said. “We have talked about more than 30 major international sporting events coming to Australia and community infrastructure coming on-line in the decade ahead.
“We have the world’s best athletes coming here and inspiring our young people. This year alone we have the FIBA World Cup for Women (basketball), the UCI World Road Cycling Championships, the UCI Freestyle BMX World Cup, swimming’s “Duel in the Pool” between the USA and Australia and the World Short Course Swimming Championships.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our athletes to compete in front of home crowds, taking on the best in the world and showing the world how Australia can put on a good show.”
For many of Australia’s Olympians, the green and gold runway is helping their sports to grow and inspire new audiences.
Logan Martin (BMX Freestyle): “I am really looking forward seeing how Freestyle BMX evolves over the next 10 years in Australia! We have a World Cup event on the Gold Coast this December which has never happened here before, so I’m excited to see more and more events come here and more support and structure to the sport,” he said.
Taliqua Clancy (Beach Volleyball): “We are excited for Australia to potentially host a great deal more international Beach Volleyball events like the ProTour, World Championships and of course the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games… all of which will be held in the lead up to Brisbane 2032. There will be more international beach volleyball here at home than ever before – that can only be good for getting more kids playing our sport and for fans to see us in action,” she said.
Ariarne Titmus (Swimming): “I’m excited that Australian athletes have the chance to compete at home in front of our friends and family, and that they can watch us from home too. I also think it’s great that we can showcase our beautiful country to other athletes and fans from around the world."
“For me, I am very excited for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. The Gold Coast Games in 2018 was one of my first major meets and is still one of my favourites, I’m excited for that home Games experience again,” she said.
Ally Bull (Kayak): It’s so hard to describe, there’s nothing like it. You have no idea what to expect, it’s one of the biggest events as an athlete you will ever have the chance to compete at. It’s what’s everyone works towards in a 4-year cycle, and I think that’s pretty cool."
“It will be pretty epic to have everyone that is in your support network to be able to be so close to you in Brisbane. It will be pretty special. I was too young to remember the Sydney Olympics so I’m pumped to be able to experience this.
“It will be like the ultimate festival of sport, the place will be absolutely buzzing with energy,” she said.