Queensland Academy of Sport to build home ground advantage

The Palaszczuk Government is set to invest in new facilities and leadership to cement Queensland’s status as an international leader in the fields of sports science and elite performance programs.

Minister for Sport, Mick de Brenni said the investment would be complemented through a leadership transition plan to ensure seamless guidance of the organisation to the 2020 Tokyo games and beyond.

“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.

“Today I can announce that we have opened expressions of interest for the Queensland Academy of Sport Director role, which will be supported through transition by the current Director up to and through Tokyo.”

Mr de Brenni said that through the Queensland’s Academy of Sport, the hundreds of athletes chosen to compete at the highest levels would be supported through the establishment of an Athlete Ambassador role.

“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.

Mr 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.

“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,” he said.

“I want every Queenslander to know that living here means you have the best chance possible of reaching the top and fulfilling your athletic potential.”

Local Member for Toohey, Peter Russo, said the $10 million investment into functional spaces at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre at Nathan would set the scene for continued success on the global sporting stage.

“The Academy is already delivering outstanding results and with this investment, its home at QSAC will commence its transition to both a training hub for elite athletes and a sports science industry hub that is the envy of the sporting world,” said Mr Russo.

“These upgrades include state of the art sport science and technology spaces, as well as modern office accommodation to draw in leading sport researchers and sporting organisations from across the nation.”

Mr. Russo said he expected the upgrades to usher in a new era for the facility, with new training facilities for elite athletes and the co-location of some of the state’s key sporting bodies into fit-for-purpose office space.

“We are creating a sporting ecosystem that supports innovation and excellence,” he said.

“I’m committed to delivering the number one high-performance, commercial and research precinct in Australian sport right here in my own community.”

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 nation leading elite sports entity currently co-locates with Queensland Athletics, Little Athletics Queensland, Softball Queensland, Netball Queensland and Special Olympics Queensland.

QAS discus athlete Matthew Denny described the QSAC investment as very exciting for all of Queensland’s elite athletes and our future sport stars.

“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,” he said.

“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.”