Federal Minister for Communications and Sport Anika Wells has publicly backed netball's inclusion at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, using an address to the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane on Thursday (5 November) to commit her support, Brisbane Times reported. The sports program is a decision for the International Olympic Committee, and a Brisbane 2032 spokesman said the Games' Olympic sports program is due to be confirmed in April next year.

"Back when I pulled on a Bluebirds netball bib at the MacGregor Netball Association here in Brisbane, the prospect of playing netball at the Olympic Games simply wasn't possible," Wells said. "Today, it could be. Today I am publicly committing my support to netball as part of Brisbane 2032."

Wells, a member of the Brisbane 2032 organising committee, said netball was "quintessentially Australian" and the leading team sport for women and girls across the region. "Headlines aside, this is about backing the biggest female sport in Australia," she said in her speech, published by her office.

Sports Program Decision in April

In December, the IOC will make recommendations on existing disciplines to have automatic inclusion, disciplines that require further assessment, and candidate disciplines eliminated from consideration, the ABC reported. A formal verdict will follow in April next year after votes at the IOC session in the Dominican Republic.

Under Olympic hosting rules, Brisbane 2032 organisers can nominate additional sports over and above core disciplines such as swimming and athletics, Brisbane Times reported. Asked whether Wells' position reflected that of the organising committee, a Brisbane 2032 spokesman said "productive conversations" about the sports program, including the host city-nominated additional sports, were ongoing with the IOC. "We're appreciative of the clarity and look forward to our sports program and venue master plan being confirmed next year, ahead of becoming the next Summer Games host post the LA28 Games," he said.

Team Sports and the Athlete Cap

The IOC's Olympic Agenda caps athletes at 10,500, and adding a team sport at a Games where cricket is also expected to feature would put more pressure on that cap, Brisbane Times reported. Asked at the Queensland Media Club whether both cricket and netball could be included, Wells said: "I think the short answer is yes. I see a world where that's possible."

"Of course, the sport program is a matter for the International Olympic Committee and I fully respect the rigorous process that the IOC is undertaking," Wells said in her speech.

Netball Australia Response

Netball Australia has gathered more than 115,000 signatures on its petition since officially launching a bid to join the Brisbane Games in 2021, and a January survey by research agency Insightfully found 66 per cent of Australians support netball's inclusion at the Olympics, according to the ABC.

"We are focused on putting our best foot forward with the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee and the IOC and we respect their processes," a Netball Australia statement said. Australian Netball Players' Association chief executive Kathryn Harby-Williams told ABC Sport: "It would be an incredible opportunity for the athletes if it is true, to compete at one of the biggest sports events in the world."

Federal Contribution Capped

Wells also backed some events being moved interstate if it helped the Games' bottom line. "I don't think it's a controversial thing to say that that might be necessary," she said. She said the federal contribution was capped at $3.43 billion under an intergovernmental agreement and that "it's the Queensland government that underwrites these Games".

The total infrastructure budget for the Games is $7.1 billion, shared between Queensland and the federal government, AAP reported. Wells also said she disagreed with the state government's decision not to include the proposed Brisbane Arena at Woolloongabba as part of the Olympic venues, according to AAP.