Queensland Academy of Sport gets $10 million investment boost

The Queensland Government is to invest $10 million into functional spaces for the Queensland Academy of Sport at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan.

Aiming to aid athletes’ success on the global sporting stage, the upgrades will include new sport science and technology spaces, as well as modern office accommodation to draw in leading sport researchers and sporting organisations from across the nation.

The Queensland Academy of Sport’s home at Nathan currently incorporates the main athletics stadium, the state athletics facility, Queensland State Netball Centre, Indoor Sports Arena, beach volleyball complex and QAS Recovery Centre.

The leading elite sports entity currently co-locates with Queensland Athletics, Little Athletics Queensland, Softball Queensland, Netball Queensland and Special Olympics Queensland, with the investment aiming to back the precinct as a hub for sports science and the training of elite athletes.

Advising that the investment would be complemented through a leadership transition plan to ensure seamless guidance of the organisation to the 2020 Tokyo games and beyond, Queensland Minister for Sport, Mick de Brenni advised this week that “we know how important the structures that support our athletes are, which is why with retirements planned to follow Tokyo, we are moving now to initiate the global search for the best in world administrators to back in our elite athletes.

Minister de Brenni also advised an expressions of interest process for the Queensland Academy of Sport Director role had been opened.

He also explained that through the Queensland Academy of Sport hundreds of athletes chosen to compete at the highest levels would be supported through the establishment of an Athlete Ambassador role, noting “I’m excited that the new Ambassador Role will work for the Academy to ensure that our athlete’s journey to competition gives them the best possible shot at athletic success.”

Two additional Queensland Academy of Sport Board positions are also to be filled, with nomination details to be advertised.

Minister de Brenni said maximising the potential of Queensland’s elite athletes is a key focus of Activate! Queensland 2019-2029, the state’s first 10-year, $1.3 billion strategy for making physical activity a way of life for more Queenslanders.

He added “by having the best sports science, facilities and coaching, we have a triple-benefit effect of uncovering sporting talent, maximising that talent and inspiring a new generation of stars.”

Described the QSAC investment as being very exciting for Queensland’s elite athletes and future sport stars, QAS discus athlete Matthew Denny concluded “we spend a lot of time developing our skills and while the facilities here have always been of international standard, it will certainly be a big motivator for me to come and train in a brand new space that has been purpose-built and fitted out with the latest equipment and technology.

“It is also a great opportunity to bring different sports and organisations together in the one venue.

“I’m a big believer in supporting my team mates and with us here together we can do that in our daily training environment, I can only see it having a positive impact on our performance in competition.

“With the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games under one year away, this will be a great boost to our preparations.”

Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre image courtesy of Polytan.