Australia's Brisbane to host 2032 Olympic Games

Will become third Australian city to host the Summer Games after Melbourne and Sydney

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Brisbane was awarded the 2032 Olympics on Wednesday, becoming the third Australian city to host the Summer Games after Melbourne and Sydney.

"The International Olympic Committee has the honour to announce that the Games of the 35th Olympiad are awarded to Brisbane, Australia," IOC president Thomas Bach said after a vote in Tokyo.

The announcement was greeted by cheers from the Brisbane delegates at the IOC session and fireworks were set off in the Australian city, where people had gathered to await the vote.

Brisbane's victory was a foregone conclusion after it was unanimously proposed as the single candidate for 2032 by the IOC's 15-strong executive board in June.

The decision means the IOC has now secured hosts for the next three Summer Olympics, with Paris holding the event in 2024 and Los Angeles holding the 2028 Games.

“It’s a historic day not just for Brisbane and Queensland, but for the entire country,” said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“Only global cities can secure the Olympic Games – so this is fitting recognition for Brisbane’s standing across our region and the world.

“It also marks an important leap forward for Australia as we look toward major events that lock in economic growth and social benefits that will echo for years to come.

“We know the impact on Sydney more than two decades ago was transformative. We can now expect a repeat for Brisbane and communities across Queensland.

“It’s a proud day for Queenslanders and Australians everywhere.”

IOC awards Brisbane the 2032 Summer Olympics

IOC awards Brisbane the 2032 Summer Olympics

Australia has already hosted the Olympics twice, in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000, widely considered one of the most successful Games in recent history.

Queensland's delegation — including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and federal sports minister Richard Colbeck — had to restrain themselves to standing and clapping with Covid-19 restrictions ruling out any close-contact celebrations.

"I have so much pride in my state for our people. Never in my lifetime did I think this was going to happen. It’s amazing," Palaszczuk said.

Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games president Hashimoto Seiko congratulated Brisbane on its winning bid.

"My heartfelt congratulations go to the people of Brisbane and Australia," he said.

"Over the past year, the world's sporting community has faced the multiple challenges of Covid-19; however, under the steadfast leadership of IOC president Thomas Bach, the Olympic movement has made steady progress, culminating in today's decision in favour of Brisbane."

The opening ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Games, delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic, starts Friday.


Updated: July 21, 2021, 5:35 PM