MEDIA RELEASE: Australia Ready for Games with Olympics Live Events Around Nation

With only six days to go until Brisbane finds out if it will host the XXXV Olympic Games in 2032 and just eight days until the Tokyo Olympic Games begin on 23 July 2021, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the Queensland Government today confirmed Brisbane will host a free, outdoor live site at South Bank for people to share in the spirit of the Games.

Olympics Live presented by Westpac will operate at Riverside Green, South Bank, from 21 July to 8 August 2021.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on 21 July the South Bank Olympics Live site would be the place learn the result of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) vote on the 2032 Olympic Games.

“The IOC’s vote has the potential to be transformational for Queensland and the Olympic and Paralympic games,” she said.

“Olympics Live sites at South Bank, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and in Cairns are where you can share in the spirit of the Games and where Queenslanders can witness the IOC’s potentially historic decision on 21 July, as it happens in Tokyo.

“Economic modelling proves the Olympics has the potential to drive our economic recovery for decades to come.

“We saw with the Commonwealth Games how a major sporting event can deliver years of employment for thousands of Queenslanders.

“An Olympic Games could create jobs across generations in a way that we’ve not experienced in Queensland before.

“There’s never been a more exciting time to be a Queenslander.”

Queensland’s Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the live sites would also be open every day and evening of the Tokyo Olympics.

“The South Bank Olympics Live site is where you can watch the Games action live on the giant screen, ‘Have a Go’ at Olympic sports and see appearances by Australian Olympians,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Our Olympics Live sites are about bringing elite sport to our vast State, it’s about inspiring the Olympians of the future by sharing the triumphs of sport and the spirit of the Olympics Games with Queenslanders.

“When the International Olympic Committee announces the result of the vote on the location of the 2032 Olympics, it could be a moment of monumental significance for Queensland.

“There’s no better way to celebrate and show our support for Tokyo Olympic Games and Team Australia than here at South Bank or one of the event sites in regional Queensland.”

The South Bank Olympics Live presented by Westpac site is the main Brisbane site, plus five regional centres and a regional tour in Queensland.  A special tour in conjunction with the RAAF will also bring Olympics Live to remote, Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait.

Across Australia, cities, towns, and councils are organising Olympics Live events but the AOC aren’t stopping there, they’re also taking the Olympics Live concept into loungerooms across the nation to ensure even those in lockdown can be part of the excitement.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the breadth of Olympics Live presented by Westpac across the nation reflected the support behind the Australian Olympic Team for the Tokyo Games and Australia’s enthusiasm for the Olympics both in person and online.

“The ethos of Olympics Live is to connect communities in the celebration of something positive and inspiring. In keeping with the Premiers message to stay at home, Olympics Live in your loungeroom is just that, stay at home with your family and cheer on the Team.” Said Carroll.

“The live sites and our online experience are designed not only for fans but also for families and friends of our competing athletes to watch the competition live and feel as close as they possibly can to the excitement of the Games.

“The AOC thanks the Queensland Government and Westpac for their support of Olympics Live across the state and the Brisbane City Council for their support of the South Bank site. This ensures the community will have places to come together and be ready to celebrate what will hopefully be an historic and exciting announcement for Queensland on the evening of 21 July. Be at the South Bank Olympics Live site to be part of the moment.

“The Australian Team is ready for the Games and I know that, through Olympics Live, we’ll all be with them and it will indeed be Tokyo Together.”

While we’re all excited for these Games the AOC are acutely aware of the changing COVID situation in Sydney. With only days to go until the Games, the AOC, in keeping with the NSW Premiers’ clear message has elected not to proceed with Olympics Live NSW sites.

Olympics Live presented by Westpac events around Australia:

QUEENSLAND

Brisbane, Riverside Green, South Bank                  21 July - 8 August

Gold Coast, Kurrawa Beach                                  21 July - 8 August

Sunshine Coast, Kings Beach Amphitheatre           21 July

Cairns, The Esplanade                                          23 July - 8 August

Ipswich, Tulmur Place, Nicholas Street Precinct      23 July - 8 August

Toowoomba, Walton Stores                                   23 July - 8 August

Redlands Coast, Bloomfield St. Park, Cleveland     24 July - 30 July

Queensland Regional Tour:

Rockhampton                                                    30 July

Mackay                                                             1 August

Townsville                                                         3 August

Longreach                                                         5 August

Far North Queensland & Torres Strait Tour:

Yarrabah                                                              4 August

Horn Island                                                           6 August

Thursday Island                                                    6 August

VICTORIA

Federation Square                                                23July - 8 August

Melbourne MSAC, Albert Park                               23July - 8 August

Bunjil Place, Melbourne                                         23July - 8 August

TASMANIA

Hobart                                                                  23July - 8 August

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Perth, Brookfield Place                                          23 July - 8 August

Venues West, HBF Stadium                                  23 July - 8 August

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Darwin, The Water Front                                       23 July – 30 July

Darwin, State Square                                            30 July - 8 August

Katherine                                                             23 July - 8 August

West Arnhem Land (Jabiru)                                   23 July - 8 August

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney

The Rocks, Sydney                                               Not Proceeding

Sydney Olympic Park                                            Not Proceeding

Penrith, The Mondo & St Mary’s                             Not Proceeding

NSW & VIC Regional Tour:

Mallacoota                                                         Not Proceeding

Merimbula                                                         Not Proceeding

Batemans Bay                                                   Not Proceeding

Nowra                                                               Not Proceeding

Note - All sites across the country will only proceed if it is safe to do so, pending COVID restrictions across that State or Territory at the time.

Olympic gold medallist swimmer Brooke Hanson, took part in today’s announcement in Brisbane, she said she was excited about the pending decision on who would host the 2032 Olympic Games and also for the role Olympics Live sites will play in supporting the team.

“Having the live site operating for the announcement on 21 July is terrific as it means everyone can share in what we hope will be a great outcome for Brisbane and Queensland – I’m planning to be here with everyone else,” said Brooke

“The idea of a home Games, here in Queensland, is so inspiring for our athletes and for young kids who dream of competing at the Olympics.

“I’m really thrilled about the live sites being organised by so many different places around the country – it’s great for those communities and the sites also give the families and friends of our Tokyo athletes a chance to share in all the emotion while they can’t actually be in Japan.”

~END~

Australian Olympic Committee:

Jonathan Sweet

0400 679 329

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