2024-02-25 12:58:58
Faced with fears raised by the redevelopment of the Gabba Stadium with a view to the Brisbane 2032 Summer Games, and in view of the distrust perceptible in public opinion and in part of the Australian political class, a Project Review Committee was recently established in order to find a solution suitable for all parties.
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D’By the end of March, Brisbane 2032 should be able to have a new map of the sites concerning specifically the place of celebration of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games, as well as the framework for organizing the events of ‘Athletics.
Presented as the only relevant project – with strong determination from the Queensland government then led by Annastacia Palaszczuk – the demolition and reconstruction of the emblematic Gabba Stadium however, fueled the chronicles in view of the constantly increasing cost of the planned work (2.7 billion Australian dollars, or 1.64 billion euros) et criticisms leveled on the ground in the face of the repercussions announced for the surrounding area of the future stadium.
Since the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to entrust the keys to the 2032 Olympic Games to Brisbane and Queensland, the case of Gabba Stadium constitutes in fact a particularly thorny point and a subject of contention so much within the political class thatamong public opinion more concerned with the proper use of public funds.
These last months, revelations about the haste with which the project was thought out et the publication of a report from a Senate Commission pointing out the very relevance of the said project contributed to weakening government plans.
Also, at present, it appears highly probable that the 42,000-seat sports venue will be in fine purely and simply excluded from the Olympic and Paralympic concept for the 2032 Games.
Indeed, a Project Review Committee was set up last January, headed by Graham Quirk, former Mayor of Brisbane (2011-2019), to debate the options and make a decision by the end of March. 2024 on the best alternative(s) to establish the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the athletics events.
View of the Gabba Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Credits – The Gabba)
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Proof that the trend is now towards a distance with no possible return towards Gabba Stadiumthe President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) strongly encouraged an overhaul of the project.
As Ian Chesterman stated in a succinct press release published on February 8, 2024:
The AOC fully supports the review process currently underway.
The IOC’s New Standard reform is designed to ensure that the Games are both affordable and sustainable, with a strong preference for the use of existing or temporary facilities.
We believe there are other, more creative solutions than rebuilding the Gabba for the Games, which provide a legacy for our sports and even greater access for fans to an exceptional Olympic and Paralympic Games.
We will submit these ideas to the Review Committee.
This state of mind had previously been supported by the former President of the AOC, architect of the Brisbane 2032 bid and figure of the Olympic Movement in AustraliaJohn Coates.
If the work of the Project Review Committee has not yet made it possible to determine the new mapping of the sites, a path seems to emerge.
View of Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Credits – Suncorp Stadium / Official Facebook page)
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Thus, the Ceremonies could be held in the setting of the Suncorp Stadium – or Long Park (52,500 places) built in the early 2000s according to plans by the architectural firm Populous and so far mentioned to host the finals of the rugby and football tournaments during the Games.
This option would have the merit of using an already existing site, although undoubtedly requiring an upgrade on a much smaller scale than that envisaged for the Gabba Stadium. It would also rebalance the system of the Games planned for the cluster of Brisbane Centre on either side of the banks of the Brisbane River, with in particular the proximity of the future Brisbane Arena announced for swimming and water polo events.
Athletics competitions could be located in the heart of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (48,500 places) built with the 1982 Commonwealth Games in mind and which was subsequently proposed as an Olympic Stadium for Ceremonies and athletics as part of Brisbane’s bid for the 1992 Olympics.
View of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Center in Brisbane (Credits – QSAC)
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This diagram – based on the use of two distinct structures – would be reminiscent of the system set by the Brazilian organizers of the Rio 2016 Games for the Ceremonies and the holding of athletics events, these events having then been orchestrated between the mythical Maracana of Rio de Janeiro et l’João Havelange Olympic Stadium.
It would also partly reflect the recommendations issued by the IOC Future Host Commission which, in June 2021, had also focused on the use of two sites, namely the Gabba Stadium for the Ceremonies only and the Carrara Stadium of Gold Coast in a 40,000 capacity configuration for athletics.
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