Facts About the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games for Kids

The Summer Olympic Games are a massive sporting event held every four years, and in 2032 Brisbane will be the host – YAY!!

To learn more about the Olympics, in particular the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympic Games, absorb the following facts, and impress family and friends with your extensive knowledge of all things Olympics.

The History of the Olympics

• The first modern Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece in April 1896.
• Only 14 countries (of which Australia was one) participated in the first Summer Olympics.
• Today more than 200 nations compete in the Summer Olympics
• Athletes from Australia have competed in all Summer Olympic Games.
• Women first competed in the Olympics at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games
• The Olympics were cancelled in 1916 due to World War I and again in 1940 and 1944, due to World War II.
• In 2020 the Olympic Games, to be held in Tokyo, Japan were postponed due to COVID and were later held in July 2021.
• The Olympic rings (five coloured rings linked rings on a white background) were first introduced in 1913.
• The Olympic torch is lit in Olympia, Greece and is carried around the world to the host city in a worldwide relay.
• When the Olympic torch arrives in the host city it is used to light the Olympic flame in the Olympic cauldron.

The Summer Olympic Games 

• The Summer Olympic Games have been held twice in Australia – Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
• The Summer Olympics begins with an opening ceremony.
• The Olympic flag is raised at the opening ceremony and the Olympic flame is lit by someone special from the host nation.
• At the opening ceremony, the Greek team is always first to enter the stadium, followed by other teams (alphabetically) with the host nation entering the stadium last.
• At the closing ceremony the Olympic flame is extinguished (put out) and the Olympic flag is lowered.
• Medals are given to the winners of events at the Olympics – Gold for 1^st place, silver for second and bronze for third place.

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

• The Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics will be held from 23 July to 8 August 2032.
• The Brisbane 2032 Paralympics Games will be held from the 24 August to 5 September 2032.
• The host city (in 2032 it will be Brisbane) gets to design the medals given to athletes.
• Each Olympic Games has a mascot – which has a special connection to the host country. They haven’t announced the 2032 mascot yet but I wonder what it might be – a koala, kangaroo, bin chicken or Bluey!?

The Venues

• The Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will he held throughout three states (Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales) with the majority of events held in and around Brisbane, Queensland.
• Co-host cities include Moreton Bay, Redland Bay, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast. Further afield Maryborough, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, Sydney and Melbourne will also host events. 
• The main stadium for the 2032 Olympics will be a newly built Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park.
• Brisbane Stadium is expected to hold 63,000 spectators.
• The Brisbane Athlete Village will be built at the Brisbane Showgrounds, and will house approximately 10,000 athletes and officials during the Games.
• Other NEW venues to be built to support the Games include Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre (Petrie), Logan Indoor Sports Centre (Logan Central), Redland Whitewater Centre (Redland) and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Athlete Villages.
• Many other venues around Brisbane will benefit from significant upgrades including Brisbane Showgrounds, Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane International Shooting Centre, Anna Meares Velodrome and Brisbane SX International BMX Centre.

The Sports

• The sports held in Summer and Winter Olympics vary, with Summer sports suited to warmer weather and sports for the Winter Olympics tailored to colder weather and snow/ice. 
• During the Olympics there are both individual and team events, for men and women.
• Sports included in the Olympics can change from time to time. In the 2024 Paris Olympics break dancing was included!
• Some of the more popular sports which are included at each Summer Olympic Games include swimming, diving, athletics, cycling, volleyball, weightlifting, skateboarding, canoeing, and equestrian events. 
• In the past there have been some weird sports held in the Olympic Games including tug of war, 200m obstacle race (in the water), rope climbing, and hot air ballooning, just to name a few.

Additional Resources

If learning these facts about the Olympics has got you excited, then check out all the ways you could get involved in the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

For more information on the Olympics including the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics visit the following websites:

Olympics.com

Queensland Government

Delivering 2032 and Beyond