Brisbane 2032 Archives - Fortitude Valley News

Squash Representatives Engage Brisbane 2032 Team in Olympic Talks

Squash representatives met with Brisbane 2032 organisers in Brisbane City to discuss the sport’s potential inclusion in the Olympic Games. They highlighted its growing global profile and contribution to Australia’s sporting heritage.

Squash Leaders Meet Brisbane 2032 Team

On 13 March, key figures, including World Squash President Zena Wooldridge, Squash Australia President Matt Schmidt, CEO Rob Donaghue, five-time World Open champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Professional Squash Association COO Lee Beachill, met with Brisbane 2032 CEO Cindy Hook and Sports Director Brendan Keane. They discussed the sport’s potential contribution to Brisbane 2032.

Squash’s Olympic Ascent and Australian Legacy

Including squash in LA28 has already spurred innovation and investment in the sport. Australia, a dominant force in squash history, holds the record for the most World Team Championship titles and has produced numerous legends in the game. Squash Australia’s recent funding boost for its high-performance strategy covers the next two Olympic cycles leading up to Brisbane 2032. This further underlines the sport’s growing significance.

The meeting coincided with the Australian Open, which has been elevated to a Gold-level PSA Squash Tour event. This year’s tournament is held at Squash Australia’s glass court in South Bank Piazza.

Squash’s Potential Contribution to Brisbane 2032

During the discussions, Ms Wooldridge emphasised squash’s dynamic nature, accessibility, and relatively low cost of integrating it into the Brisbane Games. She expressed gratitude for the open dialogue with Brisbane 2032 organisers and stated that the conversation helped build a mutual understanding of opportunities and challenges.

Squash in Olympics games — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

Looking Ahead: Squash’s Road to Brisbane 2032

While no formal commitments were made, the meeting marked progress in positioning squash for inclusion in Brisbane 2032. With its sporting heritage in Australia and increasing international recognition, squash is positioning itself as an exciting addition to the Olympic program.

Published 18-Mar-2025

Brisbane’s Own Greg Norman Takes on a New Challenge—Shaping the 2032 Olympics

Brisbane’s Olympic preparations are gaining a homegrown boost, with Greg Norman joining the Games’ organising team. The committee, operating out of Brisbane City, is at the centre of the city’s Olympic vision.

Read: Roar vs Wellington Phoenix: Brisbane Look to End Losing Streak, Reignite Title Push

Local Connection Runs Deep for Former World No.1

For Brisbane residents, Norman’s ties to the city run deeper than many realise. Before becoming the “Great White Shark” who dominated world golf for 331 weeks as World No. 1, he honed his skills in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. He worked at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, which fittingly will serve as the venue for the Olympic golf events in 2032.

Reflecting on the appointment, Norman said, “In my youth in the ’70s, I worked in the golf shop at Royal Queensland. Now that course will be the home of golf at Brisbane 2032.”

Greg Norman, a Strategic Appointment for Brisbane’s Global Ambitions

Minister for Sport Anika Wells highlighted Norman’s ability to contribute to Brisbane’s Olympic ambitions, citing his four decades of global sporting experience and business acumen. The appointment comes as Norman transitions from his role as CEO of LIV Golf, bringing fresh strategic insight to the organising committee.

OCOG President Andrew Liveris reinforced the significance of his involvement, stating, “What better Queensland sports brand than Greg Norman? He will help elevate our state and our city on the global stage over the next seven years.”

Business Expertise Meets Sporting Legacy

Beyond his sporting achievements, Norman brings substantial business expertise to the role. As chairman and CEO of the Greg Norman Company, he has overseen successful ventures in apparel, interior design, real estate, and golf course design – experience that could prove invaluable in Brisbane’s Olympic development.

Norman replaces retiring politician Graham Perrett MP on the 24-person organizing board, with his first OCOG meeting scheduled for 5 April. The appointment represents a significant boost for Brisbane’s Olympic preparations, bringing together local knowledge and global expertise.

Read: New Vision for Waterfront Pavilion, A Key Element of Waterfront Brisbane

For Brisbane, Norman’s appointment bridges the city’s sporting heritage with its Olympic future. As preparations for the 2032 Games continue to transform the city, having a local figure of Norman’s calibre on board offers both practical expertise and symbolic significance.

Speaking to the aspirations of his hometown, he affirmed, “We will prove our credentials as world leaders in events, sport, and hospitality at Brisbane 2032 and create an incredible legacy for this state.”

Published 31-January-2025

Got Big Ideas For Fortitude Valley for Brisbane 2032? Here’s How You Can Share Them!

Here’s an idea. An elevated open space and active transport link within Fortitude Valley, which will provide a broader connection loop from Victoria Park through to New Farm, to be built in time for the Brisbane 2032 Games? Find out how you can support this idea or share your own.

Read: Mass Closure at Eagle St Pier As Waterfront Brisbane Redevelopment Looms

Luke Micali, a senior landscape architect at Vee Design in collaboration with Mike Jones put forward this concept at the ‘Inner Spark,’ a Council initiative where locals are invited to share their big ideas and help shape the future of the inner city in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dubbed as “LeBron Link,” the elevated open space will provide a broader connection loop from Victoria Park through to New Farm, ultimately connecting major destinations and green space and providing much-needed equitable green space.

A lot the good projects in the city, such as Howard Smith Wharves, the Green Bridge program, and Queen’s Wharf once came from big ideas from locals.

Other Futuristic Ideas

Tessa Leggo of Fred St suggested ‘The Block Park,’ where all streets bounded by Stanley, Wellington, Ipswich and Balaclava, will feature parkland style streetscape and car travel is local only.

Architects at FORM suggested ‘Frog’s Hollow Civic Space,’ a new civic space on the corner of Albert and Mary streets that provides a green focus opposite the new Cross River Rail Station and further reinforces the green spine between the City Botanic Gardens and Roma Street Parklands.

inner spark — Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

Business South Bank put forward a ‘City-wide Bougainvillea Path,’ a wayfinding device that helps links all of the significant places in Brisbane.

“Extend the South Bank Bougainvillea arbour to not only create a welcoming, safe, subtropical trail that promotes and encourages walking throughout the inner city but provides a beautiful and iconic backdrop for the city,” Business South Bank wrote.

Share Your Ideas!

What would you like Brisbane to look like, and beyond? Get your creativity flowing and share your big ideas with the community or vote from among the ones submitted by other residents.

You can share your big ideas for Brisbane under seven themes:

Welcoming – Create more to see and do, promote access and inclusion
Connected – Improve the cycle network, enhance river connections, upgrade public transport, improve connections to inner city green space
Animated – Stage iconic events, deliver creative lighting, grow the visitor economy
Beautiful – Green our city, create walkable streets, activate small spaces
Future focused – Facilitate growth, plan our Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy, elevate our global city
Green – Clean, green, sustainable, carbon positive
Resilient – Ability to respond, adapt and rebuild to challenging conditions

To learn more about the Inner Spark project or to submit your own idealis, visit Brisbane City Council’s website or phone Council on 07 3403 8888.