Brisbane has big plans ahead of hosting its first Olympics.
On Friday, the Australian federal government and Queensland state government announced that they would spend a combined $4.9 billion on infrastructure before the city hosts the 2032 Summer Olympics.
The federal government will provide $1.7 billion to construct the proposed 17,000-seat Brisbane Arena, while the state will add $1.9 billion to renovate the Gabba Cricket Ground.
The remaining $1.3 billion will be used to build new venues or upgrade existing ones — Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the state already has 80% of the venues needed to host the Games.
Brisbane was awarded the 2032 Games in July 2021. It will be the third Australian city to host an Olympics after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
“I know, as a Sydneysider, the difference that a Games can make, and here in Queensland, this will consolidate this great city as a global city, as a global powerhouse,” prime minister Anthony Albanese said at a press conference.
This summer, Australia will co-host the FIFA Women’s World Cup with neighboring New Zealand. Over a half-million tickets have already been sold for the event.
