Sunshine Coast athletes and coaches are excited about the prospect of the 2032 Olympic Games being held in South-East Queensland.
With preferred status given to the region by the International Olympic Committee this week, there is plenty of hype surrounding the event bid.
A feasibility study undertaken in 2019 indicated the Sunshine Coast could boast 12% of competition venues, hosting marathon swimming, road cycling, football, triathlon, volleyball and beach volleyball.
An athlete satellite village and spectator accommodation were also mooted.
Young Sunshine Coast kayaker Jenaya Massie said a potential home Games would provide an “awesome” opportunity for the region’s athletes.
“It would be absolutely amazing,” she said.
“It would be epic, so cool to have your whole support crew with you and all of your friends and family could come and watch.”
She said it would motivate youngsters.
“It brings hope for sports and junior athletes around the Coast, South-East Queensland and around Australia.
“It’s motivating for everyone who is involved in an Olympic sport.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle and if you love what you do and work hard why wouldn’t you want to go to a Games here.”
Massie, 18, is entertaining the idea.
She’s one of the rising stars of kayaking and was recently selected in Australia’s Paris 2024 Talent Development Squad.
“It’s baby steps for me at the moment. Paris is my first goal and hopefully I’ll move on to LA (2028) and who knows where I’ll be in 10 years.
“But if I’m still kayaking and loving it and living the dream, I’m sure I’d have my goals set for SEQ.”
Massie believed a local Games would capture the imagination of the entire Sunshine Coast.
“I know Australia would have an amazing Olympics, as they have before (Melbourne, 1956 and Sydney, 2000) and it’s an added bonus that it would be on our home turf,” she said.
“It would be great for the community and tourists, for everyone to watch and experience a full Olympic Games. The Coast community have never had an event that big before so it would be great for everyone.”
Massie lives with Olympics swimming hopeful and Sunshine Coast product Lani Pallister, 18. They recently moved to the Gold Coast, where they train with high-profile squads.
Lake Kawana is a national championships standard venue for kayaking, but Redlands has been slated as the initial point of interest for the sport at a 2032 Games.
University of the Sunshine Coast Sport High Performance Director Brendan Burkett said a home Olympics would be a boon if done properly.
“It’s very exciting and it will come around quickly,” he said.
“When host countries do the job right, it makes a massive difference.”
Burkett, who is also Australia’s Paralympic swim team coach and a former Paralympian, pointed to London 2012 as an example.
“They were able to use the infrastructure left over,” he said.
“The precinct there has turned into a thriving hub for business and accommodation.
“And Australia did it right in 2020, so there’s every chance we can do it again in 2032.”
He said a looming Games could fast-track infrastructure, including transport and venue construction/upgrades, while creating jobs.
Burkett, who is also the former chairman of the Sunshine Coast Sports Federation, said the region had developed a reputation for sport.
“During the past 10 years the Coast has been able to produce a lot of homegrown talents, people who actually perform their sporting dreams coming from the area.”
“They haven’t had to go away too much (to pursue their ambitions) and the Coast is also an attractive destination for athletes to come to.
“There’s a whole range of things the Coast has developed in that sports space and having the opportunity to compete in your home Games would definitely keep people motivated and create more opportunities here on the Coast, for facilities and officials, coaches, referees and athletes.
“I’m sure there be negotiations over what sports go where but things like triathlon, surfing and sailing would be a range of sports you could slot in.”
Mooloolaba Bay offers a natural amphitheatre and boasts a proven record in hosting elite triathlons and swims.
The USC Stadium is capable of hosting elite events like top-tier volleyball. It currently hosts national league netball matches and National Basketball League pre-season games.
Meanwhile, there are hopes Sunshine Coast Stadium, which has hosted NRL games, will be upgraded with a $68 million expansion.
Sunshine Coast Council, local philanthropists and the state government have expressed their willingness to chip in a combined $48 million but a plea to the federal government for the remaining $20 million was recently unsuccessful.
Expansion supporters hope the latest news regarding the 2032 Games will ignite the federal government’s interest in backing the project.
Possible sports and locations on the Sunshine Coast, via feasibility study in 2019.
Marathon swimming (Mooloolaba) 2500 spectators
Road cycling (Various options, including the hinterland) 2500 spectators
Football prelims (upgraded Sunshine Coast Stadium) 20,000 spectators
Triathlon (Mooloolaba) 2500 spectators
Volleyball prelims (USC Stadium) 6000 spectators
Satellite Olympic Village
Spectator accommodation
