What’s Happening?
Rockhampton has taken its place in the statewide reveal of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games emblems.
The city’s piece was revealed beside the Fitzroy River on Thursday, 1 October. Seven-time Paralympian Angela Ballard and Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares OAM took part in the event.
Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris, Queensland Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander, and Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams also attended.
The Rockhampton event formed part of a wider series of emblem reveals across Queensland before the complete Brisbane 2032 designs are shown.
Why It Matters
For Seven-time Paralympian Angela Ballard, the emblem gives Brisbane 2032 something athletes can connect with as they work towards a home Games.
“I think for me, when that emblem comes out, it makes it so much more real,” Ballard said. “That’s where I want to be. That’s what I’m going to be aiming for.”
She said athletes often spend years focused on daily training, making smaller milestones important reminders of the bigger goal.
“You aim big, but you need these little moments of going, ah, this is exciting. This is a big thing I want to do,” she said.
Ballard said the emblem could become one of those personal reminders during the years ahead.
“For me, I keep a training diary, so it’d probably go straight in there. That’s the stuff that just keeps on reminding you of what you’re aiming for because the daily grind is literally just get up and do the thing that you need to do today.”
Local Impact
For Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Anna Meares OAM, the Rockhampton reveal also carried a strong personal connection.
She grew up in Central Queensland, began her cycling career in Mackay and spent her high school years in Rockhampton. She trained locally under Ken Tucker before leaving at 19 to pursue her Olympic ambitions.
“Obviously coming from Rockhampton and having my career starting here, it feels a bit full circle for me,” Meares said.
She said the feeling around Brisbane 2032 was growing for both athletes and communities preparing to host events.
“It’s a similar feeling for the Olympians as it is for the communities that are hosting events,” she said. “You can feel it a little bit now already, the buzz of excitement and anticipation and a real pride as well.”
By The Numbers
- 7 Paralympic Games: Angela Ballard competed at seven Paralympic Games and now serves on the Brisbane 2032 Board.
- 19 years old: Meares said she left Central Queensland at 19 to pursue her goal of becoming an Olympian.
- 2032: Rockhampton is part of Queensland’s preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Fitzroy River set to host rowing and canoe events.
Zoom In
Meares said she had already been following the emblem pieces appearing around Queensland before being asked to take part in Rockhampton.
“I’ve seen the last couple of days where pieces of the emblems for Brisbane 2032 have been found,” she said. “When I knew it was coming to Rocky and I got the call to be here with Ange, I was very excited and, as you can imagine, competitive. She found it before me.”
The latest piece also sparked speculation about what the complete emblem could look like.
“It has thrown a lot of us, but I actually think that this is a part of the face and the frill of the bearded dragon or the frilled neck lizard,” Meares said. “That’s my call on the emblem, but I’m very curious to see where it actually lands.”
She said the regional activations were helping communities and athletes feel more connected with the Games.
“It’s been a fun morning, very exciting for the community in this region,” she said.
Meares said the growing Brisbane 2032 presence could also inspire aspiring Olympians across Australia as preparations continue for a home Games.
Zoom Out
Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris said the Games could also create wider tourism opportunities for Central Queensland.
He said discussions were beginning with tourism agencies and bureaus about how the region could prepare for future visitors.
“We talked about the tourism product and how we’re going to build up revenues from this because this is a part of the world that the world needs to discover,” Liveris said.
He said planning would need to consider the full visitor experience, including event access, accommodation and hospitality.
“We’ve got to do it so that it’s hospitality oriented, that the course, the access for fans work, the accommodation works,” he said. “All of that is in our future in terms of the model and the studies.”
Liveris said the Games would provide a chance to promote Central Queensland more widely.
“The whole idea is that we’re advertising, in this case, Central Queensland,” he said.
He also pointed to the Brisbane 2032 vision, Believe. Belong. Become., saying it reflected Australia’s sporting culture, hospitality and natural environment.
Rockhampton’s Bigger Sporting Role
Mayor Tony Williams said the emblem reveal added another connection between Rockhampton and the 2032 Games.
“As mayor, I’m super proud to have the emblem puzzle piece here in the city of Rockhampton that’s hosting rowing and canoeing,” Williams said. “I think it’s going to be a transformation opportunity for our city.”
Williams said Rockhampton had already been working to strengthen its reputation as a sporting hub.
“Rockhampton Regional Council has invested into building that reputation through Advance Rockhampton, where we sponsor a lot of championships and regattas to nurture and foster that development,” he said.
He said the region’s sporting history could also help encourage younger residents to consider what role they might play in 2032.
“We’ve seen that over the years with a proud history of athletes coming from Rockhampton, and we want to continue to grow that,” Williams said. “There’s the opportunity to get in front of all our young students and young citizens and really say, here’s a great opportunity. Why not be part of this, the 2032 Games?”
Williams said the Games could help encourage more athletes from Central Queensland and regional Queensland to pursue elite sport.
What To Look For Next?
As the Brisbane 2032 emblem comes together, Rockhampton’s role in the Games is becoming more visible.
The bigger question for locals is what that role could mean beyond competition day. Tourism, accommodation, fan access and sporting opportunities are already part of the discussion.
With rowing and canoeing set for the Fitzroy River, Rockhampton has years to prepare for athletes, visitors and global attention.
Could the Games also inspire the next Anna Meares or Angela Ballard from Central Queensland? That possibility is already part of the conversation as 2032 moves closer.
