Athletics Australia supports Queensland Government’s view on QSAC

Athletics Australia and Queensland Athletics applaud the common-sense approach of Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, the Honourable Grace Grace, in upgrading the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre (QSAC) ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games.

Athletics is the number one Olympic and Paralympic sport, pivotal to the Games’ success, and therefore these important decisions on venue and infrastructure priorities must deliver a lasting legacy of the Brisbane 2032 Games that fosters the growth and posterity of athletics into the future.

As the country’s biggest participation sport, Athletics Australia’s primary objective sought from the Brisbane 2032 Games was to build a venue, fit-for-purpose for the sport, to allow it to thrive, flourish and inspire the nation – in line with the outcome of the Sydney 2000 Games.

While athletics is the centrepiece of the Games schedule, the athletics track is often built as a temporary track, dropped in to a major football or cricket stadium and ripped up after the Games – which only serves to further benefit those professional codes, not the Olympic movement or extended athletics community including grass roots and school athletics participants.

Currently a hub for hundreds of thousands of athletics participants, from school children to elite athletes, QSAC is in need of redevelopment as a state-of-the-art venue.  In doing this for the Games, the sport of athletics will become more accessible than ever, and the venue will provide the option to host more world class and global athletics meets in Australia.

The proposed upgrade of QSAC is not only the best outcome for the athletics community but for Queensland, with the cost of the redevelopment of Queensland's second-most visited stadium substantially lower than other plans so far recommended. It is also aligned with the IOC’s ‘new norm’ reforms which support building Games infrastructure for a city, rather than rebuilding a city for a Games.

We advocate for a venue strategy that recognises the role of the athletics in the Olympic and Paralympic movement and the community, and will ensure a robust legacy for the sport.

As the leading bodies for athletics in Australia and Queensland, we stand ready to collaborate with the State Government and Stadiums Queensland to design and deliver a world class facility that can be used for generations to come.

We want to ensure a targeted and sensible infrastructure investment to deliver a successful 2032 Brisbane Games, and provide ongoing legacy benefits to inspire the athlete inside all Australians.

Jane Flemming
Athletics Australia
President

Yvonne Papadimos
Queensland Athletics
President

Posted: 18/3/2024