Posted on: 17 March 2025
Shadow Minister for Sport, Matt Cowdrey is calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to get moving on South Australia’s 2032 Olympic & Paralympic ‘Legacy’.
This comes ahead of the expected decision later this month by the Queensland Government on stadium infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games.
Mr Cowdrey said the Games build-up has the potential to be highly lucrative for South Australia.
“There is a huge economic opportunity with thousands of athletes from all over the world requiring a pre-Games base, and South Australia is uniquely positioned to take advantage given our growing international reputation as the ‘Sports and Events capital of Australia’,” Mr Cowdrey said.
“While seven years seems like a long way away, we need to start this work now if we want to attract the best of the best to South Australia and if we want to secure more than our share of athletes and the economic benefits that come with that.”
“Starting these conversations early and making it clear that South Australia is the place to be before the Games will ensure that we make the most of this once in a generation opportunity,” Mr Cowdrey said.
“Having a clear plan will also ensure that we can strategically identify infrastructure upgrades and international events that compliment what we are looking to achieve and that will not only help deliver an economic return for the state but also benefit local sporting clubs for decades to come.”
A home Games is unique in that nearly all teams will need to undertake what is typically 2-3 weeks of pre-games training and acclimatisation in Australia due to the travel distances, climate and timing of the event.
Many countries’ National Olympic Committees (NOC) and National Sporting Organisations (NSO) begin planning for this well in advance of the current Olympic cycle.
South Australia hosted 1,000 athletes and support staff from 26 countries prior to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
“We have many amazing sporting facilities that are world leading and would be extremely attractive to athletes. These include the newly opened South Australian Sports Institute, SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre and Memorial Drive.”
“The Labor Government should stand up a Team SA 2032 Games Legacy Committee and task it with developing a strategy to maximise the economic benefit and actively promote South Australia as the place to be prior to the Games.”
“The Games are more than two elections away, the Committee should be bipartisan and have representatives from sport, business and Government. There is no shortage of well-connected individuals in our sporting community who could assist.”
“This isn’t just about Olympic sports, it will need to be a whole of state approach with professional sporting clubs of all codes having the opportunity to share facilities, upskill and learn from the best in the world.”
“My initial conversations with state sporting organisation and sporting club CEOs indicates a strong level of interest and excitement in a bipartisan Team SA approach - so let’s get started.”