New $2.1 million high-performance gym officially opened at Sleeman Sports Complex

To mark it being exactly one year ago today that the IOC awarded the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Brisbane, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk officially opened the Queensland Academy of Sport’s (QAS) new $2.1 million high-performance gym and athlete health suites at the Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler.

This Saturday also marks the ten-year milestone to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Chandler is a state-of-the-art, one-stop-shop to give athletes training for the Olympics and Paralympics and winter Olympics the coaching expertise and infrastructure they need for a winning edge on the world stage.

It follows the $2.7 million partnership in the National Throws Centre, now under construction, a $10 million QAS high-performance gym at Nathan and a $1 million investment in the National BMX Freestyle Park on the Gold Coast.

Premier Palaszczuk noted “We are right behind our athletes, ensuring they are provided with world class experts and the right daily training environments to be competitive on the world stage.

“The 2032 Games are a decade away, but we’re determined not to waste a second of the time we have to deliver the best Games ever.

“It’s no accident we’re out of the starters’ blocks early to maximise Games’ planning and legacy outcomes for Queenslanders.

“We’re investing in training infrastructure and elite coaching to give young Queensland athletes the best opportunities to be podium ready for a home Games in 2032.”

Sport Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement Stirling Hinchliffe added “we’ve made improvements to the Emerging Athlete Pathways program to help young athletes, coaches and officials with the cost of competition travel and accommodation.

“Eligible Queenslanders can now receive support before their event, instead of after and the minimum travel distance is halved to 125km, so more athletes qualify.

Selected young athletes from 10 to 18 years-of-age, coaches and officials can apply for $500 to compete or officiate at a state or state school event, $600 for a national or national school event or $800 for an international event.

In 2021-22 the Emerging Athlete Pathways program invested $992,900 to support Queensland athletes, coaches and officials on 2638 occasions.

QAS Chief Executive, Chelsea Warr said it is an incredibly exciting time for the elite sport in Queensland addng “The QAS new high-performance gym and athlete health suites at Sleeman Sports Complex are part of a bigger 2032 Master Plan for a world leading, multi-sport ‘Sport Silicon Valley’ hub.

“We are also out of the blocks ensuring potential 2032 athletes across Queensland are identified and nurtured through the QAS Youfor2032 Talent ID program.

“Outstanding young Queenslanders with the skills and aptitude are being discovered and are exciting our partner high-performance sports.

“The QAS talent team has tested over 1200 aspiring Olympians and Paralympians and we’re seeing testing records broken by young athletes in regional areas.”

Applications for the YouFor2032 program are open at www.qld.gov.au/youfor2032.

Images: Credit: Qld Academy of Sport