Overview
When the FIFA Women's World Cup arrived in Australia in 2023, anyone in Brisbane who didn't score a ticket to the local games was able to watch along on the big screen at South Bank. When both Brisbane Lions teams — the men and the women — made their respective 2023 AFL grand finals, the inner-city site also broadcast the action. Next up: checking out both the Olympics and Paralympics, with the South Brisbane precinct again turning into a viewing site for the Paris 2024 games.
South Bank's cultural forecourt in front of QPAC — and next to the BRISBANE sign — will turn into a sports-watching hub from Saturday, July 27–Monday, August 12 for the Olympics, then from Thursday, August 29–Monday, September 9 for the Paralympics. Across both periods, attendees will be able to catch the games from 6am–midnight daily, featuring a mix of both live broadcasts and replays.
The Department for Culture Media and Sport, Wikimedia Commons
As well as cheering on the competing athletes — including the Matildas — Brisbanites will be able to make the most of pop-ups such as community sporting demonstrations and challenges, other entertainment, plus food trucks providing a bite to eat. Although the telecast will show 18 hours a day every day across the two periods, you'll need to head along between 4–7pm on Fridays and 11am–7pm for the activations.
Expect the initial Matildas games to be among the replays, given their first three matches are all scheduled for 3am Brisbane time. First, the squad takes on Germany on Friday, July 26. Next up is Zambia on Monday, July 29, then the USA on Thursday, August 1.
Not that getting into the Olympics and Paralympics spirit every four years is new in Brisbane, but 2024 sees the Queensland capital embrace the games eight years before hosting them in 2032.
Tiffany Williams
South Bank Olympics and Paralympics Viewing Site Dates:
Saturday, July 27–Monday, August 12 — for the Olympics
Thursday, August 29–Monday, September 9 — for the Paralympics
IOC, Christophe-Moratal
Tiffany Williams
South Bank's Paris 2024 Olympics viewing site will run from Saturday, July 27–Monday, August 12, and the Paralympics viewing site from Thursday, August 29–Monday, September 9. For more details, head to the South Bank website.