Paris Olympics: Countdown to the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics

With less than nine years until the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the countdown has well and truly begun!

The Brisbane Olympic Games will be held from July 23 to August 8 and the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5.

To prepare, Brisbane is working on many updates to its public transport, infrastructure* (the buildings and services in a city) and its parks, all of which will also benefit residents once the Games are finished. The work is expected to create lots of jobs in the meantime and have economic benefits* too.

Australia has been lucky enough to host the Summer Olympic Games twice before, but it will be the first time for Brisbane or Queensland, making it a very exciting time for Queenslanders.

Although the host city is officially Brisbane, like many other Olympic Games (including Paris 2024 and Melbourne 1956), some of the events will take place in nearby cities and regions.

The Gold Coast, Scenic Rim*, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, and Moreton Bay are other Queensland locations set to hold Olympic events such as indoor volleyball, mountain bike riding, football, basketball, rowing and boxing.

Much of the planning for Brisbane 2032 is still underway, including who or what the official mascot of the Brisbane Games will be.

Mascots are like ambassadors*, because they are designed to represent the Olympic spirit as well as capturing something unique to the host nation. Some mascot options include a koala, a dugong (a distinctive marine mammal) and an ibis (a bird affectionately known today as “the bin chicken” in Australia but was once revered* in Ancient Egypt!).

Some ibis fans have even created a character, “Barry the Bin Chicken”, who not only has his own website but also has a line of products for sale, including “I Support Barry – Brisbane 2032 Olympic mascot” stickers to stick on – you guessed it – your bin!

The mascots for Sydney 2000 were Syd, Olly and Millie, a platypus, kookaburra, and echidna who symbolised* water, air, and earth. The Melbourne Olympics did not have mascots – they weren’t introduced until the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games 12 years later.

BACK IN HISTORY
Sydney 2000
The last time Australia hosted the Olympic Games, Sydney 2000, was our most successful Games in history!

Australia collected 58 medals in total, including 16 gold. This medal haul took us to fourth on the overall medal table, behind the US, Russia and China. Compare our relatively small population to these three powerful and large countries for a sense of Australia’s achievement finishing fourth place overall.

The Sydney Games saw 10,651 athletes from 199 nations take part in 300 events in 28 sports.

The Australian team had 632 athletes – still the largest team we’ve had.

The two most celebrated Australian champions were sprinter Cathy Freeman and swimmer Ian “Thorpedo” Thorpe.

Freeman’s heart-stopping win in the 400m women’s sprint was the pride of the nation, while Thorpe’s size-17 feet propelled him to win five medals (three gold and two silver). Both athletes are still considered superstars to this day because of their Sydney Olympic performances.

Melbourne 1956
Australia’s first time hosting the Summer Olympic Games was nearly 70 years ago in Melbourne, 1956, where far fewer athletes took part – there were 3314 participants from 72 countries.

This smaller showing was because Australia was still considered remote and because some countries boycotted* the Games to protest invasions* in other parts of the world.

Australia came third overall on the medal tally with 35 medals, including 13 gold, eight silver and 14 bronze.

Australian runner Betty Cuthbert won three gold medals in the 100m sprint, 200m sprint and as a part of the women’s 400m relay team.

Swimmer Murray Rose tied Cuthbert’s record as the most successful Australian athlete of the Games, winning the 400m and 1500m freestyle and as a part of the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay team.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• infrastructure: things like roads, train lines, parks, schools, hospitals, water supply and sewerage, that are necessary for a community to function
• economic benefits: making money
• Scenic Rim: an area in southeast Queensland known for its natural beauty, bushwalking and camping spots and locally made food and wine
• ambassadors: someone who represents a country
• revered: worshipped or highly respected
• symbolised: represented or equated with
• boycotted: didn’t take part in it
• invasions: when one country’s armed forces enters and takes control over another country

QUICK QUIZ
1. What type of bird is a “Bin Chicken”?
2. What year were Olympic mascots introduced?
3. When and where was the last time Australia hosted an Olympic Games?
4. How many medals did Ian Thorpe win at the Sydney 2000 Games?
5. How many athletes took part in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Kids News has produced a free Paris Olympics education workbook full of classroom activities to support the information in this series.

It has been crafted by one of our expert Kids News teachers and complements the information in these education kit articles.

Sign up to the free Kids News weekly newsletter HERE to access the education workbook plus more news and initiatives.

EXTRA READING
PART 11: Oz Olympic Heroes