Building a more accessible Queensland ahead of 2032
With six years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the 2032 Paralympic Games, Queensland's future venues are already helping shape a more accessible future.
From a dedicated Para Sport Facility, to new indoor sport centres in Logan and Moreton Bay designed to support a range of Para sports, accessibility is being embedded across the Games Infrastructure Program to help more Queenslanders participate in, enjoy and benefit from sport long after 2032.
The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games aim to be the most accessible Games ever, with accessibility informing the design and delivery of all 17 venues GIICA will deliver. GIICA is working closely with Paralympics Australia and Queenslanders with Disability Network to ensure that the voices of people with lived experience of disability and Para sport help shape venue design, and we are drawing on the expertise of accessibility specialists to deliver Universally Designed Venues.
At the recent National Aquatic Centre design unveiling, three-time Paralympic gold medallist Brenden Hall said the 2032 Games represent an opportunity to create a lasting legacy of inclusion.
“We're aiming for Brisbane 2032 to be known as the inclusive Games,” Brenden said
“Knowing [the National Aquatic Centre] is going to be super accessible, super inclusive and everyone is going to have access to a world-class aquatic center to learn life-long swim safety skills is really exciting.
“I'm really excited for the National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane because it means greater accessibility, greater opportunity and we get to have a home Games. These tick a lot of boxes for future Paralympians."
Among those looking forward to the new National Aquatic Centre is Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Lewis Bishop, who says accessible venue design can make a significant difference for Para athletes.
Paralympian Lewis Bishop
"A lot of the people that I'm on the team with have difficulty going upstairs and having access to things that others take for granted in daily life," Lewis said.
"With accessibility at the forefront of the new aquatic centre being built for Brisbane 2032, I think that's very progressive and it's amazing for all the athletes that are attending."
Lewis hopes the Games in 2032 will help change perceptions of Para sport and inspire future generations of athletes.
"In Brisbane 2032, I want Para athletes to be known as high-performance athletes, and not just be seen for their disability."
A key part of that future vision will be investing in facilities that directly support Para athletes to train, compete and achieve their goals.
The new Para Sport Facility will create dedicated training pathways for high-performance Para athletes, while fostering opportunities for increased participation in sport for Queenslanders with disability.
The facility will provide athletes with access to specialised equipment, training spaces and support services within an established high-performance sporting environment to help foster the next generation of Para athletes.
Queensland frame running athlete Tori Dent knows first-hand how important access to suitable facilities can be.
After a brain tumour left her needing to re-learn how to walk, talk, eat and smile, Tori eventually discovered frame running through the UQ ParaStart program and found a pathway back into sport.
Frame runner Tori Dent
“Without frame running, I hadn’t run for 5 years. I like being fit, healthy and strong and it allows me to do that,” Tori said.
She believes accessible facilities are critical to ensuring others have the same opportunity.
"Without access to venues to allow people to try Para sports, then the sport kind of disappears.
“So from a training point of view, you need venues for Para athletes because without a venue that includes accessibility, they can't train.
“In terms of watching the sport, I think having inclusive and accessible venues for everyone allows everyone to enjoy the sport together.”
That commitment to inclusion extends across the broader Games venue program.
Two new indoor sport centres in Logan and Moreton Bay will help meet growing demand for indoor courts while also creating opportunities for a range of Para sports, including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, boccia and sitting volleyball.
With nine courts in Logan and 12 courts in Moreton Bay, the venues will support both community participation and high-performance competition, helping ensure more Queenslanders have access to modern, accessible sporting facilities close to home.
For venues undergoing upgrades, such as Barlow Park Stadium in Cairns and Sunshine Coast Stadium, GIICA is delivering grandstands with improved accessibility and concourses designed to help people of all abilities move comfortably through the venue and enjoy the events on offer.
Six years from the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games, the legacy is already taking shape.
Through accessible venue design, dedicated facilities for Para athletes and new opportunities for community participation, Queensland's future Games venues will help create places where more people can train, compete, connect and belong for generations to come.
