The sports you want to see at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics
Brisbane 2032’s power brokers have been encouraged to think about more than money when deciding which sports will feature at the Games; because exclusive poll reveals what Queenslanders will choose.
Almost a third of those polled for this imprint’s Resolve Political Monitor think they would add rugby league to the show, despite the sport not having featured in any Olympic Games.
Cricket has become the second most popular sport two years before its debut in Los Angeles 2028. This was followed by netball and surf lifesaving, two popular participation sports in Queensland, with governing bodies lobbying for inclusion in the international event.
Australian Olympic champion Kieren Perkins said there needed to be a delicate balance between sports that would attract global attention and sports that honored the pursuit of excellence rather than financial gain.
Perkins, a two-time 1500m freestyle gold medalist who is now chairman of the Australian Sports Commission, said his preference would be to ensure that independently financially strong sports are not considered.
When asked if rugby league could operate as a similar concept to football, where under-23 competitions are staged, he suggested an iteration such as touch football would be more realistic.
“Sports that are commercially successful independently, the Olympic stage is probably not for them,” he said.
“This phase is for sports that are not a commercial entertainment game, a game full of highly paid athletes who are there for business.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are an environment for people committed to seeing how far they can push themselves and pursuing excellence in their sport alone.”
Nearly 10 per cent of those surveyed supported the inclusion of Australian rules football at Brisbane 2032. AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed the league was in talks to play an exhibition match at the Games.
Perkins’ proposal for touch football follows the inclusion of flag football (a touch version of American football) in Los Angeles 2028 and an effort to remain part of Brisbane 2032. In April, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell visited Queensland to present flag football to the organizing committee.
Netball has also embarked on a massive campaign of 13 million players in 120 countries, including 1.6 million participants at 3300 clubs in Australia.
While this was only the top two preferences of 18 percent of those polled by Resolve, a separate survey commissioned by the governing body found that 66 percent of people want the code to be included in 2032.
Diamonds veteran Liz Watson, a gold medalist at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, said the Olympics were the only thing missing from the sport’s calendar to make it a truly international force.
He said he often speaks to people who believe this is already a permanent part of the Games.
“We are the most popular young women’s and girls’ sport in Australia in terms of participation rates, which is huge in itself,” Watson said.
“To me it’s a very simple thing. The World Cup and the Contact Games… we’re seeing this fantastic interest, but I think putting it on the world stage, being an Olympian and going to the Olympics would do a lot for our sport.”
“Now that it’s in our house, that’s probably our best chance to get in, and once we get in, hopefully we stay in.”
Softball, which will return to games in Los Angeles, is also trying to hold its own; This is supported by Australia securing hosting rights for the 2027 Women’s World Cup finals in Redcliffe.
Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells said decisions about which sports will take part in the Games were in the hands of the International Olympic Committee.
“I think it’s really important for us to have iconic Australian sports. I want to see sports that Australian kids are already playing and can see themselves playing and training to get to Brisbane 2032,” Wells said.
“Netball has made a really strong bid. I think life-saving sports like surfing, iconic Australian events that give kids the opportunity to do that regardless of their personal family background, that’s what guided me in my choice of sport.”
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