Councils mark six years until Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games

Queensland councils mark six years until Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 2:25pm In short: The countdown is on for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, as Queensland councils celebrate six years until the event's opening ceremony. The Brisbane City Council has installed a countdown clock to mark the remaining time. A replica of Matilda, the iconic 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games kangaroo mascot, has also been unveiled in Moreton Bay. Queensland councils are celebrating six years until the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Olympic opening ceremony will be held in Brisbane on July 23, 2032, followed by the start of the Paralympic Games on August 24. The Brisbane City Council has unveiled a clock in the Queen Street Mall as an official countdown for the international sporting event. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said most host cities received a countdown clock a year before the Games, but Brisbane "likes to do things differently". "This is the place where people come together to start their day in the city, to go shopping, to have a bite to eat, to meet friends," he said. "From today on, they will see exactly how many days and hours and minutes until the 23rd of July, 2032." Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said the installation of the countdown clock was a "goosebump moment". "Brisbane '32 has been working very hard to make sure that these are not just the best Games ever, but the best sporting event that elevates the legacy impact to the citizens of Queensland and to the people of Brisbane," he said. 'No time to waste' As Brisbane's clock counts down to 2032, the Queensland government still needs to build seven new venues, and upgrade another 10 to be ready for the Games. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the remaining time was "going to go quick". "We have no time to waste now," Mr Bleijie said. "We've got to deliver the infrastructure, the venues, the road, the rail, the transportation." Andrew Liveris said he was "confident" the city will be ready to host in time. "Six years is perfectly fine in construction terms, even in stress conditions," Mr Liveris said. He said he recently met with the president of the International Olympic Committee in New York. "We had a long conversation about timelines, venues, sports and we're confident it's not six minutes to midnight." Legacy vision after 2032 In addition to the countdown clock, the Brisbane City Council has released its "legacy vision" for the years leading up to and after the Olympics. Under the plan, the council has identified 21 key initiatives, including unlocking up to 50,000 new homes before 2032, developing more green and community spaces near major infrastructure projects and expanding the city's public transport network. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he wanted the Games to benefit Brisbane in the long term. "There's a lot of talk about the big venues, the stadiums, the National Aquatic Centre, about major infrastructure," Mr Schrinner said. "But this plan also focuses on practical, local things that will make a difference to Brisbane residents. "Everything from upgrades to local sporting facilities, to parks, to the way that people use the river, these are all things that will leave an amazing legacy behind." Matilda the kangaroo returns In Moreton Bay, the local council has celebrated the six-year Olympic milestone by unveiling a replica of Matilda, the kangaroo mascot of the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. The nine-metre statue, named Milly, has been installed at the Mill Water Park in Petrie, next to the future Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre. Mayor Peter Flannery said Milly would serve as a reminder of the first time Brisbane found the international spotlight. "It's going to give people the ability to tell the story of Matilda, the 1982 Commonwealth Games and how big that was for Brisbane," he said. "We're now seeing the Olympics and Paralympics putting Brisbane back on the international market." "It's an icon that the City of Moreton Bay brings people together for sport." Want to have your say? Go to www.abc.net.au/yoursay [Image text:] 6 DRYS JERRS 0909 45 CDINS SEES To the Opening Ceremony of the HOURS Olympic Games Brisbane 2032 on 23 July 2032 Brisbane 2032 Qecnslard OMEGA OFFICIAL TIMEXEEPER