THE decision to move the sailing events for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics from Moreton Bay to the Whitsundays has sparked a heated debate.
State Member for Lytton Joan Pease expressed disappointment over the change, which means the picturesque waters of Moreton Bay will no longer host sailing events.
“Our beautiful Moreton Bay will no longer host sailing for the 2032 Olympics,” Ms Pease posted.
The Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, based at Manly, also expressed its disappointment.
“We are also very disappointed today, although happy for our friends in Townsville Sailing Club and the Whitsunday Sailing Club are going to host this amazing event!”
The decision to shift the event north has ignited frustration among some, who feel that Moreton Bay would have been an ideal location for the Olympics.
Adam Hunter criticised the move, saying: “It’s a massive loss. Our local community, all sports and sailing clubs should be …… off that they don’t get to experience an Olympic Games in their backyard.
“A generation of kids won’t be inspired and there won’t be any legacy of infrastructure for generations to come.”
However, others have pointed out that Moreton Bay’s sailing conditions, particularly in winter, are less than ideal.
Denise Martin Wałker shared her perspective, posting: “Winter sailing conditions for Moreton Bay never favourable.
“Little breeze and not often enough.
“If the Olympics were held in our summer, different story.
“North QLD is a good choice for Olympic sailing.”
Supporters of the move to the Whitsundays also argue that the region offers more consistent conditions for sailing, with its calm and scenic waters.
Justin Ward shared this sentiment: “Great choice, show the beautiful Whitsundays.
“Paris has it in Marseille, London had it in Weymouth.
“Seemed to work well for them.”
Others argue that spreading the events across Queensland is a positive move that will benefit regional areas.
Linda Csincsi remarked: “Regional Queensland provides a lot of the state wealth from agriculture and mining and tourism yet miss out on so many benefits because SEQ get them all.
“This plan for the 2032 Olympics is great because it will spread some of the flow-on benefits to other parts of Queensland and provide money for generational infrastructure to other areas that often get left out.”
Ian Woodhead also welcomed the changes, saying: “Your party (ALP) had plenty of opportunity to make this happen, but wasted valuable time in arguing against each other.
“Let’s just be thankful that a plan is now in place and that Brisbane will no longer be an embarrassment in front of the world.”
The conversation also turned to the logistics of hosting events in far-flung locations like the Whitsundays, with some questioning the practicality of travel and accommodation for spectators.
Allyson Streader raised this concern, saying: “Imagine an international guest flying into Brisbane thinking the locations to these events are nearby only to find they have to catch a plane to Rockhampton or Townsville
otherwise it’s a 6 1/2-hour drive or even longer train ride.”
Meanwhile, others like Trinette Murphy applauded the State Government’s decision to spread events across the state, particularly benefiting regional and rural Queensland.
“Welcome to a State Govt that values and appreciates regional Qld!!
“For too long Labor only cared about Brisbane and the SE … under Crisafulli the whole state will benefit from the games,” she wrote.
