Ipswich turned green and gold this week as the city marks seven years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ipswich City Council Mayor, Teresa Harding said that with Brighton Homes Arena (Ipswich Stadium) in Springfield Central included as a competition venue under the 2032 Delivery Plan, the city will play an important role as a co-host of the Games.
“Nicholas Street Precinct in the heart of Ipswich will be bathed in green and gold on Tuesday and Wednesday nights as council’s city hall, 1 Nicholas Street, is lit up with the colours worn by our national sporting heroes,” Mayor Harding said.
“Ipswich has such a wonderful history of producing athletes who have donned the famous green and gold, including our nation’s most successful athlete out of the Paris 2024 Games, Mollie O’Callaghan. I have no doubt 2032 will be a time when our city is bursting with pride.
“As a sports-mad city with a thriving grassroots and community sporting landscape, excitement is building across Ipswich as we celebrate key milestones in the countdown to the 2032 Games.”
Mayor Harding said the time between now and 2032’s opening ceremonies was a chance to secure legacy sporting and community infrastructure as well.
“Council continues work on determining a location for a much-needed synthetic athletics track in the city, while our new rectangular sporting venue – North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct – is being delivered, starting with a $40 million new western grandstand,” she said.
“We are also advocating for critical upgrades for transport needed to enable a successful Games, as well as delivery of Games training venues and upgrades to grassroots sporting infrastructure.”
Economic and Cultural Development Chair Councillor, Pye Augustine said Council was also focussed on making the most of the economic possibilities the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games would bring.
“Seven years out from the Opening Ceremony, Ipswich is well positioned to benefit from the more than $8.1 billion in economic benefits the Games will bring to Queensland and council continues to work to leverage these opportunities,” Cr Augustine said.
“Those benefits are not only related to infrastructure. Work done to progress local transport and sporting infrastructure means jobs, procurement opportunities for Ipswich businesses and skills development for its workforce.
“It is also an opportunity to increase the number of tourists coming to the city, and to promote our existing strengths as a place where new businesses want to relocate.
“Ipswich City Council will be joining government buildings and public landmarks across the state to light up in green and gold on the evenings of Tuesday, 22 and Wednesday, 23 July.
“It’s a welcome chance to showcase local pride, share the Olympic and Paralympic spirit with our community and savour the excitement in the lead-up to hosting the world.
“It’s also a chance to focus on the economic opportunities the Olympic and Paralympic Games can mean for the Ipswich community.”
Mayor Harding this week met with aspiring pentathlete, nine-year-old, Charlie Wilson, to learn more about Modern Pentathlon and hear about Charlie’s Olympic aspirations.
“As Ipswich is earmarked to host Modern Pentathlon, I was delighted to meet with nine-year-old Charlie Wilson, who began her journey into Modern Pentathlon through ninja and obstacle course racing,” she said.
“Charlie told me she loved climbing and spending time at Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve where she first honed her skills on the ropes course and climbing structures.
“Charlie has competed for Australia in ninja and obstacle course racing and was invited by Fencing Queensland to take part in a development course for modern pentathletes.
“Over the next seven years Charlie, and athletes across Ipswich, will hone their skills in the hopes of being able to compete at home, and I wish Chalie all the best in her pursuit of her dreams.”
Charlie says the Modern Pentathlon is a good sport for anyone who enjoys variety and challenge.
“I like that there is a variety of sports in Modern Pentathlon as it keeps training really interesting,” she said.
“It is really exciting that the Olympics are coming, and it is great that Modern Pentathlon will be held in Ipswich.”
