Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games opportunities

The Olympic and Paralympic Games is the world’s biggest sporting event. The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it promises a legacy that can be experienced locally, regionally and nationally. Broadcast to over five billion people globally, this is our opportunity to engage collectively, refine and advocate to deliver priorities for our city profiled on the world stage.

From the City of Ipswich’s perspective, as a proud Co-Host City and Games Delivery Partner, there are opportunities to secure a Games event venue, pre-games training venues, upgrades to grassroots sporting infrastructure, increased tourism visitation and procurement opportunities for local businesses.      

    Co-Host City

 

While the Federal and Queensland Governments funding envelopes for venues and transport have been allocated, Games opportunities still exist for the City of Ipswich.

The following priorities are currently being pursued by the City of Ipswich as Games opportunities:

Brighton Homes Arena

Commitment Secured

Brighton Homes Arena (Ipswich Stadium) is listed as a 2032 Games venue in the 2032 Delivery Plan released by the Queensland Government in March 2025.

Brighton Homes Arena was listed as a 2032 Games venues in the original venue masterplan to host modern pentathlon. 

Commitment Required 

Following the confirmation of the sports program for the 2032 Games in late 2026, the City of Ipswich seeks confirmation Brighton Homes Arena will be used as a Games venue for modern pentathlon or other sport depending on the makeup of the final sports program.  

Pre-Games Training Venues

The 2032 Games creates immense opportunities for pre-Games training camps across South East Queensland, particularly in the two year period leading into the Games. Ipswich is well poised to host international teams who are looking for a low-distraction environment, for highly-focused training camps in close proximity to Brisbane.

Council has undertaken an audit of all public and private sporting facilities across the city. While some venues in the Ipswich region are ready to host international teams as training venues, other venues have been identified as needing infrastructure investment to ensure they are ready for elite athletes.  

Commitment Required

Australian and/or Queensland Government funding for sports infrastructure to bring identified pre-Games training venues up to elite standard. This would be a beneficial legacy which would provide the economic benefits of hosting international teams and the community legacy of improved sports facilities for the region post-Games.

North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct 

Commitment Secured

$40 million investment to deliver Stage 1 of the modernisation and upgrades to the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct in the form of a new western grandstand and field lighting. Including $20 million from the Federal Government, $10 million from the Queensland Government and $10 million from Ipswich City Council.

Commitment Required

Delivery funding for the next stages of the development to deliver a Northern, Eastern and Southern seating area, upgrades to Len Johnson Oval and improved connectivity to the Ipswich Train Station and Ipswich Central.

More information

Synthetic Athletics Track

Council has resolved to advocate for a synthetic athletics track to be built in Ipswich and is in the process of identifying appropriate council-owned properties where a synthetic track could be located. This work is anticipated to be completed by late 2025.

With a shortage of synthetic athletics tracks in South East Queensland and none situated in the Ipswich region, this project represents a key piece of sports infrastructure legacy for the region.

Currently, athletes need to travel a minimum of 40 minutes each way to access a synthetic athletics track at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), at Nathan.

A new synthetic track would also position Ipswich to support the 2032 Games in delivering an additional elite ready athletics training venue in South East Queensland.

Commitment Required

Once a site is identified State and/or Federal Government funding is required to deliver the project.

Sports Hub and Indoor Sports Facility

A key outcome from the City of Ipswich’s Leveraging 2032 Our Roadmap to the Olympic and Paralympic Games document is a Sports Hub – regional parkland and multi-sport complex. With Ipswich growing faster than any other council in Queensland over the next twenty years the region is seeing incredible demand from sporting clubs and families seeking access to sports facilities.

The Sports Hub includes multiple ovals and sporting fields, clubhouses and amenities.

The Indoor Sports Facility would directly address Ipswich's undersupply of indoor court space for sports including basketball, netball, futsal and volleyball.

Commitment Required

Legacy Forest

Another key outcome from the City of Ipswich’s Leveraging 2032 Our Roadmap to the Olympic and Paralympic Games document is a Legacy Forest. Council will progress the establishment of a Legacy Forest in Ipswich, creating urban habitat and biodiversity and cooler places for future generations.

Commitment Required 

Partnerships will be sought with the Queensland Government to identify priority areas of high value habitat and biodiversity corridors for protection and rehabilitation through partnerships, offsets, impact investment and acquisition.

Future Opportunities 

As the runway to the 2032 Games evolves so will the opportunities presented to the City of Ipswich. Some of them are known opportunities such as procurement for local businesses and increased nature-based and eco-tourism to the region. Others are unable to be defined at this moment, however, having Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games opportunities identified as a Regionally Significant Project will enable council to agilely respond to future advocacy needs and opportunities associated with the games and ensure Council is in a position to best leverage these opportunities and funding.