Cairns To Host Football And Basketball For 2032 Brisbane Olympics
Parts of Cairns are set to undergo a major makeover ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. You may have heard the exciting news: Brisbane has been named as the official host city for the 2032 Games, following Los Angeles which will host in 2028. Although it’s still a few years until the world’s elite athletes touch down here in Australia, preparations are already well underway.
While Brisbane is the primary host for 2032, Olympic and Paralympic events are set to take place all across Queensland, including right here in Cairns.
Cairns to host football and basketball at 2032 Olympics
Cairns has been selected to host the preliminary football and basketball matches. These will be held at Barlow Park Stadium in Parramatta Park. which is set to undergo upgrades, increasing its grandstand capacity by 5,000 seats.
But it’s not just Barlow Park that’s getting a revamp. Cairns itself will benefit from Olympic and Paralympic refurbishments. As part of the budget allocated to regional Olympic projects across Australia, upgrades will be made to key transport routes including the Bruce Highway, Captain Cook Highway, and the Cairns Arterial Road. These upgrades won’t just benefit Olympic visitors, but also tourists on their way to the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests.
Discover Cairns' Reef and rainforest on these awesome tours!
How to get from Brisbane to Cairns
Hoping to visit Cairns in winter 2032 to get in on the Olympic action? There are plenty of ways to travel directly from Brisbane to Cairns - but be aware there's some serious distance between the two Queensland cities. It may be a few years away, but travel prices are likely to rise as the world's largest sporting event looms closer, so it never hurts to plan ahead! Your options are:
- Fly from Brisbane Airport to Cairns Airport (approximately 2 hours 30 mins with multiple departures daily)
- Drive from Brisbane to Airlie Beach (over 20 hours of driving - we recommend a stop at Airlie Beach along the way)
- Hop on a Greyhound coach from Brisbane to Cairns (approximately 29 hours with a changeover at Airlie Beach)
Travelling from elsewhere? Take a look through our full guide on getting to Cairns for more information!
Where is the 2032 Olympic Village going to be?
The main Olympic Village will be built in Bowen Hills at the RNA Showgrounds in Brisbane. After the 2032 Games, the Olympic Athlete Village will be transformed into permanent housing.
What is going to happen to the Gabba?
Brisbane’s iconic sports venue, The Gabba, is going to be replaced by a brand new stadium ahead of the 2032 Games. The new Victoria Park stadium, expected to cost a whopping $3.8 billion, will be the venue for both the opening and closing ceremonies and hold 63,000 seats.
2032 Olympics & Paralympic locations across Regional Queensland
It's not just Cairns that's taking over some of the hosting duties from Brissie in 2032. Other areas across Regional Queensland will be getting in on the action and hosting a variety of sports.
- The Whitsundays and Townsville are set to co-host sailing events.
- Mackay is tipped to host Olympic and Paralympic cricket at the Great Barrier Reef Arena - if the International Olympic Committee decides to include the sport in the Brisbane Games.
- Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River will be the venue of choice for rowing and canoeing.
- Toowoomba Showgrounds in Darling Downs are slated to host equestrian events
- Maryborough in the Wide Bay area will host archery.
- The Sunshine Coast will be hosting the marathon, race walk, road cycling, and mountain biking.
- The Gold Coast is due to host volleyball, beach volleyball, the triathlon, judo, weight lifting and wrestling.
What else is there to do in Cairns?
Cairns is a wild, tropical paradise just waiting to be explored, bursting with magnificent natural landscapes and thrilling once-in-a-lifetime adventures. This Tropical North Queensland region is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics. People travel from far and wide year-round to explore the magnificent Reef, the famous Daintree Rainforest, and some of the world’s most marvellous waterfalls. Whether you’re in Cairns for a flying visit or for a few days, there are endless awesome tours and activities to sink your teeth into!
For more information, take a look through our full guide on things to do in Cairns, or our jam-packed Reef & Rainforest packages.
