3 weeks ago
12
February 4, 2026 — 5:26pm
Concerns about Queensland’s regionalisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games have emerged at an International Olympic Committee summit in Italy, with Brisbane 2032 organisers facing pointed questions.
Last May, a Nine News journalist reported that Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie clashed with Hungarian IOC official Balazs Furjes in a “tense” meeting over the Rockhampton rowing venue during a scheduled IOC visit to Queensland.
Nine reported that after Furjes informed Bleijie that only the international World Rowing federation could decide whether the Fitzroy River was suitable for Olympic competition, Bleijie “forcefully” told him “the state government’s decision was final and there would be no changes”.
Citing that visit overnight in Milan, Furjes asked the Brisbane 2032 panel, led by president Andrew Liveris and chief executive Cindy Hook: “How final is the master plan?”
“That’s my first question, and have all the issues with the IFs [international federations] been resolved?” he asked during the IOC’s 145th session in Milan.
Fellow IOC member Ingmar De Vos also had some pointed remarks about the role of international federations.
“We look forward to receiving the proposed venue plans, but just as a reminder, and for the avoidance of any doubts – and Andrew [Liveris], you know why I ask the question – these venues and plans still need to be signed off by the international federations, and this is key,” he said.
De Vos said the IOC needed to see “specific solutions” for the logistical challenges of having the Games spread across such a large area of Queensland.
In response, Liveris said the similarly decentralised Milano Cortina Winter Games, which start this week, would be “very instructive” to Brisbane 2032 organisers, as both events were quite dispersed.
But Liveris conceded the Crisafulli government’s focus on spreading the Games across Queensland would hit Brisbane 2032’s bottom line.
While venue delivery was government funded, the running of the Games – originally $4.9 billion, for which Liveris and the Brisbane 2032 organising committee was responsible – would be funded through revenue raising, such as ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and commercial sponsorship.
Under the host contract, taxpayers could have to cover the cost of any operational shortfall beyond that budget.
The first major sponsor was expected to be announced within months.
“We had the bid budget and that bears no resemblance to reality, especially right now,” Liveris said.
“So we are working with the IOC on the revised budget.
“The revised budget, when we finish with that work product, will now have these new locations – the new locations of small villages – and obviously, transportation issues to get to those places.
“Those will be new costs that we have to work closely with our government delivery partners on.”
Speaking in Townsville on Wednesday, Bleijie said he was not concerned about the potential additional costs.
“What [the organising committee for the Olympic Games] delivers is cost neutral, and has to be cost neutral, and they get sponsorship for that,” he said.
When asked by this masthead, Bleijie did not address questions about the Queensland government’s relationship with the IOC, but said assessment of the Fitzroy River was ongoing and initial findings were positive.
“We’ll continue to work closely with Brisbane 2032 and international federations for flatwater sports to deliver a facility the community can be proud of,” he said.
Liveris said the Queensland government clearly wanted a dispersed Games for “good reasons”.
“We actually don’t object to it at all,” he said. “We’ve just got to make sure it’s affordable and the athlete experience and the fan experience does not get compromised.”
Brisbane 2032 chief sport officer Kit McConnell, who joined the organising committee from the IOC last year, assured the sports’ governing bodies attending the Milan session they would be “fundamentally involved in all areas of venue planning”.
“Not just to sign off, but using your experience, using your expertise on the design of the venues where they are new builds ... and, equally, on all of the temporary builds,” he said.
“[And] using all of your experience to make sure they’re the most efficient and effective venues possible – always focusing on the field of play, coming back to the sports, and the athletes.”
The Crisafulli government’s Brisbane 2032 Delivery Plan maps out the most decentralised summer Olympic Games in history.
While events such as football have traditionally been played in other cities – Brisbane hosted Sydney 2000 matches, for example – the 2032 Games would have rowing in Rockhampton, archery in Maryborough, sailing in Townsville, and other events spread across south-east Queensland.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
