Sports facing uncertainty over their place at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics are introducing new formats and technology as the International Olympic Committee reviews the future program in Lausanne. Race walking, surfing, skateboarding and climbing are among the disciplines whose Olympic positions could be at risk.
Modern pentathlon has replaced horse riding with a ninja-style obstacle course, while canoe sprint is shifting its focus from longer races towards more explosive 500-metre events. Race walking is considering microchips in competitors’ shoes to detect whether athletes have both feet off the ground, addressing concerns about the subjectivity of judging.
Australian race walker Isaac Beacroft, who won gold at this year’s Commonwealth Games, supports the proposal. The 19-year-old also backs changing the event from 20,000 metres to the more familiar half-marathon distance, describing the combination as an effort to keep race walking in the Olympic program.
The IOC is assessing individual disciplines according to factors including television audiences, venue costs and complexity, and the number of athletes involved. Brisbane could also have a lower athlete limit of 10,500, increasing competition between established sports and newer disciplines.
Swimming, gymnastics and athletics are expected to retain their places, although individual events such as race walking may still face scrutiny. Sports requiring dedicated venues or large athlete quotas, including triathlon, rowing and hockey, are also being examined under the IOC’s “fit for future” process.
The uncertainty affects several potential Australian medal contenders for 2032, including skateboarders Arisa Trew and Chloe Covell, climber Oceana Mackenzie and surfer Molly Picklum. If their disciplines are not included in the core program, Brisbane organisers would need to select them as additional sports. Hosts will have up to four such choices, as Paris did with breaking, while Australian sports such as netball, surf lifesaving and touch football are also seeking places.
Those additional sports would have to be funded by the Brisbane organising committee rather than co-funded by the IOC. That could create budget pressure if sports with large athlete numbers or complex facilities are moved outside the core program.
The funding issue has prompted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to suggest considering existing venues in Sydney and Melbourne for some events. The state and federal governments have committed $7.1 billion to Games venue infrastructure, but a detailed budget cannot be completed until the Olympic program is settled.
The list of core disciplines is expected by the new year, while the final program decision is scheduled for the IOC session in April next year. Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris has expressed frustration at the delay.
Beacroft remains hopeful that race walking will be included, while acknowledging the uncertainty facing athletes. He also believes the sport must modernise and says the microchip proposal shows that race walking is responding to criticism and feedback.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.