Olympic gold medalists Sally Pearson, Grant Hackett and Raisel Jones are among the latest high-profile athletes to call for a rethink of the controversial Brisbane 2032 Games stadium plans.
The trio were among a group of Olympians and Paralympians who signed an open letter on Tuesday criticizing plans to hold Olympic athletics at the 49-year-old Queensland Sport and Athletics Center (QSAC) .
Also included are Olympic swimmers Melanie Wright, Brooke Hanson, Geoff Hugill, John Sieben, Andrew Baildon, Chris Wright and Brenton Rickard, and Paralympians Curtis McGrath, Carni Liddell and Monique Murphy. was also named.
A recent infrastructure review commissioned by the Queensland Government recommended building a $3.4 billion 55,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park in central Brisbane as the centerpiece of the 2032 Games. .
But Premier Stephen Miles instead announced plans to renovate Suncorp Stadium, the QSAC and the dilapidated Gabba.
The $2.5 billion Brisbane Arena, set to host swimming, will be the only new stadium to be built thanks to federal funding.
Two-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Ariarne Titmus last week questioned the state government's Olympic plans, saying Brisbane “needs to do its best and this decision means we won't do it.” I haven't.''
Tuesday's open letter confirmed Titmus' concerns.
“While we understand the intention to get the most value for taxpayers from the Games, we do not believe the QSAC site represents that not only financially, but also in terms of Brisbane and Queensland's heritage. No,” the paper said.
“And frankly, the main stadium, which can hold just 40,000 people, is embarrassing and in no way represents the positive spirit of Queensland.”
The letter also took aim at the Prime Minister's pledge to spend $1.6 billion on upgrading QSAC.
“The QSAC facility is the incubator of athletics in this state, and any disruption to the facility will only negatively impact performance at home games,” the association said.
“We all remember the great event that took place in Sydney in 2000.
“Queensland deserves something just as spectacular without a centerpiece that reeks of compromise. It's not too late to change your mind, Miles.”
The Queensland Premier said on Tuesday the athletes involved were “entitled to be heard, but we will listen to the people of Queensland”.
“They are telling me about hospitals, about schools and how difficult it is to make a living,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“No matter how many swimmers ask me, there is no justification for spending billions more on stadiums when Queensland faces such daily challenges.”
