International survey names Brisbane as Australia’s top sports city

While the 2032 Olympics may still be almost a decade away, Brisbane has been named Australia’s top sports city, placing 15th out of 100 leading sports cities around the world.

The annual survey by international communications agency BCW Global Sports Practice placed Paris and Los Angeles first and second spot with London third and New York and Manchester completing the top five.

Other Australasian cities on this year's BCW Ranking of Sports Cities were Melbourne in 23rd place, Sydney in 44th and Auckland, which placed 66th.

Welcoming Brisbane’s arrival in the top 20, City of Brisbane Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner stated “Brisbane is already well known as a leading global sports city and that reputation is only going to be enhanced as we get closer to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We’ve got world-class stadiums near the city, vibrant precincts, year-round sunshine and great public transport, which all help to make Brisbane an ideal destination for fans to experience major sporting events.

“With a $19 billion pipeline of projects, Brisbane is a city that just keeps getting better.

“Global companies and sports federations tell us they see incredible opportunities in Brisbane, and we see a growing appetite for what our city has to offer.

“The message for sporting codes, event organisers and businesses is to get in now, Brisbane is alive with opportunity and on an exciting growth trajectory.”

Anthony Ryan, Chief Executive of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, said the city is attracting attention across sporting codes and event organisers as a top host destination.

He noted “attracting a diverse calendar of major events to the city is a key priority as we prepare for Brisbane 2032, the biggest and greatest global event in nine years,” Ryan said.

“We put on an incredible show as the hosts of the NRL Magic Round, Australian PGA Championship and soon the FIFA Women’s World Cup and have a proven record of delivering world-class events with an unrivalled visitor experience.”

Paris moved above the Japanese capital Tokyo, which hosted the delayed Olympics and Paralympics in 2021, in this year's BCW Ranking of Sports Cities, which takes into account an analysis of cities' digital footprint and a survey of International Federation officials and sports media members.

The French capital is due to host the Olympic Games from 26th July to 11th August next year, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28th August to 8th September.

The Stade de France, an athletics and rugby sevens venue for Paris 2024, is also due to host the men's Rugby World Cup final in October this year.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics host Los Angeles has climbed two places to second, with 2012 Games host London staying third.

Madrid and Barcelona placed sixth and seventh while Tokyo has slipped to eighth, amid the growing bribery and bid-rigging scandals connected to the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

The report noted “aligning themselves with big brands such as the Olympics and FIFA and major professional leagues” was pivotal for cities to be internationally perceived as major sporting hubs.

Click here to view the survey results.

Images: Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium will be a host venue for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2027 Rugby World Cup (top) and the Pat Rafter Arena at the Queensland Tennis Centre (below).