The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has postponed its decision on the sports program for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games until April 2027, further delaying the finalization of the venue masterplan amid already tight construction schedules.
Cindy Hook, the outgoing chief executive of the Brisbane 2032 Games Organising Committee, disclosed during a recent call with Queensland mayors that the IOC would not accede to the Queensland government’s request to confirm the sports lineup by the end of this year. A source familiar with the discussions said Hook indicated the government would need to adjust to the delay.
Traditionally, host cities are expected to finalize their Olympic programs seven years before the opening ceremony. However, Brisbane has been awaiting the conclusion of an extensive review of the Games’ sports lineup initiated by IOC President Kristiy Coventry last year. This review requires every sport to substantiate its inclusion based on criteria such as global participation, venue demands, and broadcast interest.
Earlier this month, Andrew Liveris, president of Brisbane 2032, expressed hope that the program could still be approved in 2026 to allow timely confirmation of the 17 venues included in the masterplan. “It’s less than six years out,” Liveris said, underscoring the urgency.
The IOC sought to expedite the approval process, even considering a remote vote by IOC members next month. However, international sports federations, many of whose leaders serve as IOC members, opposed this approach, preferring that the final decision be made in person at a planned meeting in late April 2027 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Sources report that the IOC executive board will announce the official timeline for the program decision at a meeting during the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar this week. Multiple IOC members said they had only ever been informed that the formal sign-off would occur at the April session despite considerable pressure from the Queensland government and Brisbane 2032 organizers to secure a decision this year.
The review process involves evaluating so-called “marginal” disciplines—including water polo, canoe slalom, race walking, marathon swimming, artistic swimming, modern pentathlon, and wrestling—all of which have been asked to justify their presence in the 2032 Games. The assessment has taken longer than initially anticipated.
Brisbane 2032 aims to maintain the athlete quota of approximately 10,800, as stipulated in the Olympic contract. This figure is about 1,000 fewer athletes than the anticipated number for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. Meanwhile, newer sports such as skateboarding, surfing, climbing, and disciplines featured in LA 2028 like cricket and flag football remain under consideration.
Once the IOC ratifies the core sports program, Brisbane 2032 plans to select three or four additional events from a prioritized wishlist. Organizers are optimistic that cricket, a sport with broad international appeal, could be included, potentially with matches held in regional centers like Mackay. The inclusion of such sports would create room for popular Australian events like netball to feature as one-off additions for the Brisbane Games.
A spokesperson for the Brisbane organising committee declined to comment directly on Hook’s remarks or the timing of the decision but stated that discussions with the IOC regarding the sports lineup are ongoing. The committee emphasized its commitment to designing a program aligned with Olympic and Paralympic values while ensuring operational feasibility, sustainability, and a positive spectator experience.
According to sources, there is growing frustration among local officials about the delay. One insider remarked, “Everybody is waiting on confirmation of the sports for planning and the venues, and they have to get cracking. But at the moment they are flying blind.”