Swimming looks to create 2032 Olympic and Paralympic legacies

March 10, 2023

Swimming Australia has announced that it is looking to deliver an impactful legacy for the sport in every aspect and across the nation out of the home Olympic and Paralympic Games in Brisbane 2032.

Swimming Australia Chief Executive Eugenie Buckley has announced the commencement of a far-reaching consultation process with swimming’s diverse stakeholders to ensure the 2032 Games makes a real and positive difference to all Australians, from their safety in the water to their health and wellbeing, through to high performance and legacy infrastructure for swimming.

Speaking today, Buckley advised “swimming for Australia is the power sport of the Olympics and Paralympics, and expectations will be high for our Dolphins to bring home the gold in 2032. It is critical in the lead up to BNE32 and beyond, we deliver a positive legacy for all Australians, from our elite athletes through to the 5.6 million Australians who are part of our growing community.

“This is our decade of opportunity, to lead the Australian sporting landscape. We swim before we walk, and we swim when we can’t walk. Swimming could deliver our greatest Olympic and Paralympic legacy out of Brisbane 2032.”

The Legacy Strategy will consider social impacts including First Nations, health and wellbeing, inclusion, participation growth and access to swimming spots. And it will consider the drivers for high performance pathway and success.

Australian Olympian, Grant Hackett, will Chair the Legacy Impact Strategy Advisory Committee that will provide input, along with considerable community contribution.

Hackett commented "it’s imperative that we take every opportunity to leverage once in a lifetime events such as the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Having a dedicated and passionate committee focused on maximising the outcomes from hosting the Games ensures its everlasting impact on our sport and community.

“Developing a strong and inspiring legacy unequivocally helps support the dreams and aspirations of future generations in swimming.” Grant Hackett said.

Noting the sport's strong participation numbers, the Legacy Strategy consultation process will consider the need for legacy infrastructure from the home Olympics and Paralympics to support future high performance and participation outcomes. Other questions include how swimming can improve access to qualified coaching and facilities.

Access to learn to swim lessons to address the concerning drowning statistics is a priority for the Legacy Strategy, with Swimming Australia looking to join Australia's other aquatic sport, coaching and teaching bodies in targetting remote communities, migrants, First Nations communities and all young children, including those who were unable to access learn to swim lessons during the pandemic.

While not covered by today's release from Swimming Australia, the ABC has reported that as part of the 2032 Games Legacy, Swimming Australia is calling for a new aquatics centre to be legacy of the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.

Currently, swimming are planned to take place at the new Brisbane Live arena using a drop-in pool.

Commenting on this, Buckley told the ABC that while the drop-in pool would be "wonderful for fans" during the Games, it would not leave behind a legacy for swimming.

Buckley stated "if we look back at Sydney 2000, when they got the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, who are actually hosting the New South Wales State Opens this weekend, so it's still a legacy asset and used.

"I think it would be beneficial to have a physical legacy because it's something where in the lead-up and post, you can have your general community from learn-to-swim to masters all being able to swim in that Olympic (and) Paralympic pool and being inspired by performances of the Dolphins (the Australian swim team)."

In developing the Legacy Strategy, stakeholders from across the swimming community will attend a series of roundtables in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and online.

Anyone with an interest in the sport is invited to contribute to an online survey that has gone live today.

Click here for more information.

Image: Action from last year's Duel in the Pool event.

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