What will the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games mean for the Sunshine Coast?
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralymic Games will be a catalyst for improved infrastructure across Queensland. It's legacy can create economic, societal and environmental changes that will make our diverse region even more inclusive, sustainable, connected, liveable and prosperous.
Research forecast the Games will deliver circa $8.1 billion AUD in direct social and economic benefits to the Queensland economy ($17.6 billion AUD nationally) including increased trade and tourism of $4.6 billion AUD to Queensland ($8.5 billion AUD nationally).
The Olympic Games are scheduled to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2032 and the Paralympic Games from 24 August to 5 September 2032.
The Sunshine Coast will be a co-host city for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032. We will be home to 4 key venues and nine proposed Olympic and Paralympic events.
What events will be held on the Sunshine Coast?
Olympic competition events
- athletics - marathon
- athletics - race walk
- cycling - road
- cycling - mountain bike
- sailing - kiteboarding
- football
- basketball
Paralympic competition events
- marathon
- cycling
Where on the Sunshine Coast will these events be held?
The 4 proposed Sunshine Coast venues for these events include:
- Alexandra Headland which will accommodate road events (Olympic cycling, marathon and race walks, plus Paralympic cycling and marathon) and kiteboarding competition (sailing)
- Kawana Precinct including an expanded Sunshine Coast Stadium (football preliminaries) and the new Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre (basketball preliminaries)
- The new Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre at Parklands (Olympic mountain bike competition)
- Sunshine Coast Athlete Village which will be located in the heart of the new Maroochydore city centre.
ALEXANDRA HEADLAND - Temporary Venue - Alexandra Headland, Sunshine Coast
Olympic marathon
- Olympic race walk
- Olympic road cycling
- Olympic kiteboarding
Panoramic ocean views, rolling surf and inviting beaches are key features of the Sunshine Coast’s coastal town of Alexandra Headland. The area has hosted many events, including the Ironman series.
With magnificent coastal frontage complete with beach, headland and parks, the area is a popular recreational spot for families and visitors who want to experience a range of outdoor recreational and lifestyle activities including swimming, surfing, skating and bike riding.
Alexandra Headland is earmarked to host the Olympic marathon, race walk, road cycling and kiteboarding events, with capacity for 5,000 spectators including temporary facilities and seating. This temporary venue will be prepared for hosting Brisbane 2032 events shortly before the Games commence.
SUNSHINE COAST STADIUM - Venue Upgrade - Kawana, Sunshine Coast
Olympic Football Preliminary Events
Sunshine Coast Stadium is a multi-sport venue located at the Kawana Sports Precinct, hosting sport, leisure and entertainment events throughout the year including expos, festivals, and music concerts. Since 2007, the sports fields have hosted many local and national soccer, rugby league and union games, the Women’s State of Origin, elite training camps, and community sports.
The Sunshine Coast Stadium is earmarked to host the 2032 Olympic football preliminary events. Currently, it can accommodate around 10,000 spectators, but the plan is to expand the venue to host up to 20,000 people, and to enhance the existing facilities.
These upgrades will ensure it continues to attract national and international events, bringing social and economic opportunities to the local community. The project will create more seating, improve facilities for athletes and officials, add multi-purpose community spaces and universal amenities with access for people of all abilities.
SUNSHINE COAST INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE - New Venue - Kawana, Sunshine Coast
Olympic basketball preliminaries
The new Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre will be a sustainable, modern facility suitable for a range of indoor sports and community uses. Co-located with the upgraded Sunshine Coast Stadium within the Kawana Sports Precinct, the centre will have 11 courts and multifunctional areas that can be used for basketball, netball, volleyball, pickleball, futsal and badminton.
Image featured is an artist impression of the west entry of the new Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre.
Proposed for Olympic basketball preliminaries, the 6000-seat facility would be located within the Kawana Sports Precinct and would be suitable for a range of indoor sports and community uses before and after 2032. The centre would have 11 courts and multifunctional areas.
SUNSHINE COAST MOUNTAIN BIKE CENTRE - Upgraded Venue - Parklands Conservation Park, Sunshine Coast
Olympic mountain biking
The Sunshine Coast’s mountain bike trails at Parklands are a destination for locals and travellers alike, offering challenging tracks in natural rainforest.
Demand for mountain biking facilities has increased rapidly in South-East Queensland and is forecast to continue to grow. The upgraded facility will help meet that demand – both before and after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games - as well as supporting the growing demand for nature trails and nature-based recreational activities.
The Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre is earmarked to host Olympic mountain bike events, with 8,000 standing spectators and temporary seating for 2,000 spectators.
SUNSHINE COAST SATELLITE ATHLETE VILLAGE - New Village - Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast Athletes Village will be delivered as part of the already-planned Maroochydore City Centre. With planning for the City Centre well underway, it will be located within the central business district where residents and visitors can work, learn, live and play, meeting the needs of the growing community.
The aim is for Brisbane 2032 athletes to be the first to occupy the new facilities and, after the Games, the village will provide around 350 permanent dwellings.
The Sunshine Coast Athletes Village will accommodate up to 1,400 athletes and team officials.
‘For our community’: landmark funding for Olympic venues
Date: 17 May 2024 Source: Sunshine Coast Stadium
Three Sunshine Coast sporting venues have today (May 17, 2024) been given the green light to progress to tender following a funding commitment of almost $300 million by the Queensland and Australian governments.
The funding signals the largest ever investment in community sporting infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast.
A $148 million Sunshine Coast Stadium expansion, a $142 million new Indoor Sports Centre in Kawana and a $14 million Mountain Bike Centre at Parklands are on track to be delivered in 2027, with construction of the Sunshine Coast Stadium Expansion planned to start later this year.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said funding for the three sporting venues would be a game-changer for the region and a direct and welcome result of our role as Co-Host City of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Today’s funding announcement follows years of research and planning and will deliver lasting economic and social benefits before, during and after hosting the Games,” Mayor Natoli said.
“The validation process the projects went through, including independent panel reviews, was extensive and demonstrated the importance of these venues for our region.
“These venues will provide high-quality competition and training facilities for our local athletes, increase participation in sports and recreation across the region, and will have capacity to host major sporting events.
“That, in turn, attracts more tourism dollars which benefits our local businesses and their staff.
“I want to be very clear – these venues are being built for our community.
“They will provide a place to train, to play, to watch our favourite teams and to cheer on our kids from the sidelines.
“Importantly, these venues will be leading-edge in accessibility to accommodate the many para-sports, athletes and spectators in our region.”
Mayor Natoli acknowledged Queensland and Australian government support was critical for venues of this size, boasting state-of-the-art facilities and accessibility, to be delivered on the Sunshine Coast.
“With eight years to go to Brisbane 2032, I am thrilled that we are already seeing amazing outcomes for our community, and we will continue to work very hard to maximise every opportunity afforded to the Sunshine Coast as a result of the games,” Mayor Natoli said.
“We’ve waited a very long time for the Sunshine Coast Stadium to be expanded. Construction of this venue is on track to start later this year, creating an estimated 650 jobs.”
The planning and design phase of the Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre and Mountain Bike Centre will continue to progress, with construction of those two venues proposed to start in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
The majority of capital funding for the three venues will come from the Queensland and Australian governments, with Sunshine Coast Council set to assume ownership and management of these venues once complete.
Date: 20 May 2024 Source: Infrastructure Magazine Author: Kody Cook
Thorough assessments have been completed on the Chandler Sports Precinct (also known as the Sleeman Sports Complex) and three Sunshine Coast venues, paving the way for the procurement process to begin.
The Federal and Queensland governments have jointly allocated funding from the $1.87 billion Minor Venues Program for investment in these projects.
Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace, Federal Senator and Assistant Minister for Regional Development Anthony Chisholm, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris, Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt, and Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton visited the Kawana Sports Precinct on 17 May where a new $142 million indoor sports centre is set to be built, and the adjacent Sunshine Coast Stadium will receive a $148 million upgrade.
The Chandler Sports Precinct and Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre are also in line for multimillion dollar upgrades of $257 million and $14 million respectively.
The Q2032 Procurement Strategy will prioritise local businesses so they have the best chance to supply for projects which will support more than 1,000 jobs, with the first contracts due to be awarded in the coming months. Early works on the Sunshine Coast Stadium will begin in late 2024, with other construction due to begin in 2025.
This means that – still more than eight years out from the Games – a quarter of the $1.87 billion Minor Venues Program will be out in the market in the coming months, and with further projects close to investment decision almost half are due out by the end of 2024.
The Queensland and Federal Governments have committed to sourcing at least 30 per cent of procurement from Queensland SMEs for the Minor Venues Program, as well as targets for ten to 15 per cent of all the hours on the projects to be undertaken by apprentices or trainees.
The final project scopes and locations were selected following a vigorous Project Validation Report process, have been endorsed by national, state, and local governments, and were recommended to proceed in the recent independent Sport Venue Review.
Communities right across Queensland are set to benefit from the Games, with events to be held in a range of locations including in Cairns, Townsville, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and the Gold Coast.
Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, said that the state is going to put on a fantastic Games under the IOC New Norms, one that leaves a lasting legacy in communities right across Queensland.
“These projects will create good jobs, new investment opportunities and access to world-class sporting and entertainment facilities – all while raising South East Queensland’s profile as a global sporting and tourism destination,” Premier Miles said.
“New and upgraded facilities right around the state will serve as world-class venues during the Games and a pivotal part of a legacy that will serve current and future generations of Queenslanders.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said that as one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, investment in these venues will deliver lasting benefits to the communities of South East Queensland both before and after the Games.
“The Federal Government is working closely with our state government partners to deliver sporting and community venues that reflect the needs of staging a global event while providing the best outcomes for our communities now and in the future,” Minister King said.
“These projects are part of a suite of new or upgraded venues to be delivered in Queensland, supporting the region’s booming population and helping deliver a successful Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace, said that Queensland’s golden decade of opportunity is here and the State Government is making the most of it to deliver lasting benefits across the state.
“We are years ahead of other host nations in delivering competition venues this far ahead of the Games, which means they can be used by the local community and also attract high-calibre sport and entertainment events,” Minister Grace said.
“There is still more than eight years to go – Sydney 2000 didn’t have a master plan until five years out.
“Since being awarded the Games, we have established the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising and Legacy Committees, signed an historic $7.1 billion investment agreement with the Commonwealth, introduced legislation to establish an independent Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority, secured $2.75 billion from the Federal Government towards the Sunshine Coast Rail Line, invested $100 million in our Go for Gold program for schools, and launched You for 2032, Australia’s largest ever athlete talent identification program.
“Our Q2032 Procurement Strategy means businesses across Queensland are already getting match fit to win government contracts – worth an estimated $180 billion – in the lead up to the Games.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, said that these new and upgraded facilities won’t just benefit sporting communities on the Sunshine Coast, they’ll benefit all Queenslanders and those who travel to the state each year to take part in sporting events.
“With plans for Sunshine Coast rail underway, we’re focused on ensuring the infrastructure that the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games need to be a success is delivered, and ensures a long-term transformational legacy is there for all to see following the games,” Senator Chisholm said.
“The Federal Government is proud to be supporting a boost to Queensland sports stadiums and community sporting facilities that will benefit South East Queensland and the nation for decades to come.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor, Rosanna Natoli, said that the funding announcement follows years of research and planning and is a direct and welcome result of Council’s role as Co-Host City of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The validation process the projects went through, including independent panel reviews, was extensive and demonstrated the importance of these venues for the Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Natoli said.
“They will deliver lasting economic and social benefits before, during and long after hosting the Games.
“I want to be very clear – these venues are being built for our community. They will provide a place to train, to play, to watch our favourite teams and to cheer on our kids from the sidelines.
“Importantly, these venues will be leading-edge in accessibility to accommodate the many para-sports athletes and spectators in our region.
“I’d like to thank the State and Federal governments for their support, which is essential to ensure that these state-of-the-art facilities are delivered for the Sunshine Coast.”
Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President, Andrew Liveris, said that the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the biggest event in Queensland’s history, delivering significant economic and social impact across the state and beyond.
“The sooner progress is made, the sooner people will be able to use these legacy assets – and that’s a good thing for one of the fastest growing regions in the country,” Mr Liveris said.
“The announcements today are further evidence that collectively, Games Delivery Partners are getting on with the job of keeping pace with preparations.
“With significant investment decisions completed and over a quarter of the Minor Venues Program approved for go-to-market contracts, we are in a good position eight years out from hosting the Games.
“I welcome the opportunities being delivered, not only for the Games, but for local businesses and communities to be part of before and beyond 2032.”
Sunshine Coast Basketball Association SCBA) General Manager, Sean Page, said that the SCBA is excited about the new 11-court indoor sports centre at Kawana and would like to thank Council and the State and Federal governments for recognising the unprecedented growth of basketball on the Sunshine Coast and the urgent need for this facility.
“This world-class facility will allow the SCBA to better service our thousands of members from all over the Sunshine Coast, as well as provide space for several other indoor sports,” Mr Page said.
“This facility will also enable the SCBA to attract state, national and international events to the region which benefits not only the SCBA, but the entire Sunshine Coast.”
10+ 10+ Vision - SUNSHINE COAST - Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Date: 18 February 2024 Source: Sunshine Coast Council
The 2032 Sunshine Coast Legacy Plan Community Reference Group (CRG) will help shape the region’s legacy plan arising from council being a key delivery partner in the 2032 Games.
The Community Reference Group comprises 16 community representatives with Sunshine Coast Council represented by Mayor Mark Jamieson and Councillor Maria Suarez. The community representatives cover a wide range of interests which include First Nations; People with a Disability; Sport and Recreation; Business, Arts and Culture; Tourism and Events; Young People; Environment; and Education.
The following is an extract from "Sunshine Coast 10+10+ Vision" published by Sunshine Coast Council.
We want our Sunshine Coast community to benefit from this exciting opportunity and for our 2032 Games involvement to leave a legacy for our future generations, 10 years before, during and after.
Enhanced connectivity
We will enhance our connectivity at a local, domestic and global level by ensuring our infrastructure networks shape an accessible and inclusive future for all.
The vision:
- Delivery of a passenger rail service from Beerwah to Maroochydore
- Delivery of the Sunshine Coast Public Transport Project
- Improved Sunshine Coast active transport networks (i.e. walking and cycling)
- Inclusive and accessible transport systems and Games infrastructure
- Improved digital and smart technologies that connect us locally, domestically and globally
Resilient and actively engaged communities
The vision:
- Inclusion of a strategy in the Sunshine Coast Arts Plan that seeks to develop a diverse and innovative arts and culture program for 2032 to showcase the region's creative talent
- Increased awareness of our First Nations peoples culture, heritage and diversity
- Growth of our Healthy Sunshine Coast program with a focus on increased participation across all ages and abilities to improve health and wellbeing
- More people volunteering and recognition of the valuable contribution volunteers make to community life
- Increased sense of inclusivity and pride
- Games impacts and opportunities are considered in our local response to homelessness and housing.
Enshrine a sustainable Sunshine Coast
Local sustainability is our continued priority.
The vision:
- Increased awareness of our Sunshine Coast Biosphere to realise the benefits and to facilitate sustainable outcomes and investment
- Delivery of behaviour change program to uplift community awareness which contributes to a climate positive 2032 Games
- Delivery of programs and projects to protect and enhance our natural environment and create more recreational opportunities - including expanding our major green spaces
- New transport systems and Games infrastructure are of sustainable design and operation, and are best practice in accessibility.
Positive economic impact
We will leverage opportunities from the Games so our region continues to lead with existing, new and expanded businesses and industries that leave a positive impact.
The vision:
- Increase hotel and accommodation options and focus on developing the Sunshine Coast an an accessible and inclusive tourist destination
- Increased capacity and procurement of First Nation businesses and improved training and employment opportunities for First Nations people
- Delivery of programs that attract and support clean tech industries to support a circular economy
- Leverage the International Broadband Network project (submarine cable) to attract investment and build our digital economy
- Focus on increased sports industry economic activity and build our health and sports technology capabilities
- Build an international profile of Sunshine Coast's world class tourism experiences.
A healthy, active and lifelong sport region
We will continue to encourage participation in physical activity and sport to nurture sporting talent and create new sports experiences, events and businesses.
The vision:
- Support for sport and recreation industry to better cater for active communities from grassroots to elite level
- Increase participation in community sport, passive and nature-based recreation opportunities
- Develop a 'Sports Bureau' to attract major sports events, training camps and centres of excellence to the region
- Delivery of permanent, world class, accessible multi-purpose sporting facilities
- Develop opportunities for recognition of our past, present and future Olympians and Paralympians.
Investment will flow': how one decision will create a legacy lasting 20 years
Date: 25 July 2021 Source: Sunshine Coast News
South-East Queensland’s coup in securing the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will ignite long-awaited investment that will deliver benefits for 20 years.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the decision would change our lives forever.
“The world is coming to our community,’’ Mayor Jamieson said.
“The decision sets in motion extensive detailed planning for staging of the Games and support the liveability and connectivity of South-East Queensland, which is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia.
“Our key approach from Day 1 in 2015 – and one that has never changed – has been to secure the investment needed to support communities, including our Sunshine Coast, as they continue to grow.
“All partners have recognised that hosting the Games should provide a legacy 10 years before and 10 years after the Games events.
“The positive impact these Games will have on our community will be second-to-none and I encourage everyone to throw their support behind Brisbane 2032.”
Millions of people around South-East Queensland celebrated the announcement.
Aussie Olympic legends, including Noosa resident Dawn Fraser, were among those to rejoice, while a large crowd gathered at Kings Beach to cheer the news with Mayor Jamieson.
The four proposed Sunshine Coast venues include:
• Alexandra Headland which will be the staging area for road based events (Olympic cycling, marathon and race walks, plus Paralympic cycling and marathon) and host the kiteboarding competition (sailing).
• Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre at Parklands (Olympic mountain bike competition).
• Sunshine Coast Olympic Village which will be located in the heart of the new Maroochydore city centre.
In addition to the built venues, the Sunshine Coast is proposed as the host location for cycling (road, time trials and Paralympic disciplines); marathon (walk, run and Paralympic disciplines); and kiteboarding, which will provide an opportunity to showcase the natural beauty and attractions of our coastline and our hinterland to a global audience.
An independent economic assessment by KPMG, commissioned by the Queensland Government, has indicated the Games will deliver a total benefit of $8.1 billion for Queensland, and $17.61 billion for Australia.
The report also found that the Games would create 91,600 Full Time Equivalent jobs for Queensland.
The games proposal will evolve over the next 11 years.
Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien, who has served as the Prime Minister’s representative for the Queensland bid, said hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games would see “a decade-long runway paved in green and gold all the way to 2032”.
“Hosting the 2032 Olympics will not only inject billions into the economy, it will also create around 120,000 new jobs, including 90,000 jobs for Queenslanders,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Local companies and businesses right across Queensland should take the opportunities which will come over the next decade to contribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“For Queenslanders, this is our moment and it’s now up to us to make the most of it.”
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said the event would significantly bolster the region’s tourism industry. It’s set to showcase the Sunshine Coast as a destination, to the rest of the world.
“The Olympics will turbocharge the Sunshine Coast’s economic development and with the new international-capacity runway at Sunshine Coast Airport, there is excellent prospects for attracting additional hotel and tourism development aimed at both domestic and international travellers,” he said.
The Brisbane bid was ratified by a vote of 87 IOC members at a meeting in Tokyo before the opening of the Games on Friday, with IOC president Thomas Bach declaring the Queensland capital as host of the Olympics and Paralympics in 11 years time.
“The International Olympic Committee has the honour to announce that the Games of the 35th Olympiad are awarded to Brisbane, Australia,” Bach said.
Needing to secure half the votes of its members, Brisbane was preferred ahead of Budapest, Korea, Doha and Germany’s Ruhr Valley.
The Brisbane 2032 delegation, including AOC President John Coates and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, made a formal final presentation to the IOC meeting.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the meeting via a live link from Parliament House and spoke of the Australian government’s financial commitment to the Games.
“We know what it takes to deliver a successful Games in Australia,” he said.
“We can draw confidence from Australia’s track record as delivering major sporting and global events that the Brisbane games will be safe and secure.”
He also described Australia’s multicultural population, with 300 ethnicities, as a “giant Olympic village”.
Coates, who is also an IOC vice-president, dubbed Brisbane “the together games” mixing modernity and the Olympics’ 136-year-old ideals.
While fireworks erupted in Brisbane, the reaction was more muted with the city confirmed back in February as the preferred host city and awarded exclusive negotiation rights ahead of its bidding rivals.
The IOC overhauled its bidding rules in 2019 to reduce costs and avoid pitting candidates against each other.
The city’s bid had earlier earned praise from the IOC for its high percentage of existing venues encompassing south-east Queensland, support from all levels of government and the private sector, experience in organising major events and its favourable weather.
Australia will become only the second country after the United States to host the Summer Olympics in three different cities.
Melbourne held the Games in 1956 and then Sydney in 2000.
Paris will stage the 2024 Games while Los Angeles has been awarded the 2028 edition.
