The Olympic Games kick off on Friday next week. Although I won’t be travelling to Paris, I know Ali and the kids will be watching at home.
I’m sure many of us in South East Queensland will be looking to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games in preparation for hosting in 2032.
As one of the proposed regional hosts, I want to make sure that Logan will get some of the events right here in our city. As the youngest and most diverse city in the state, I’m sure we’ll have lots of talented Logan athletes representing Australia in 2032. I mean, we already have an impressive bunch to come from our city in this year’s lineup.
For these Olympics, make sure to keep your eye out for swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan who was born in Logan.
BMX freestyle gold medallist Logan Martin is also heading to Paris. He learned to ride at Crestmead by following his brother.
Meadowbrook-born decathlete Ashley Moloney is the first Australian to win an Olympic medal in the decathlon (bronze in 2020) and I’m looking forward to seeing what he achieves this year.
Marathon runner Genevieve Gregson (nee LaCaze) is a former John Paul College student and Paris will be her fourth Olympics. Incredible!
And Logan’s own para-shooting medallist Natalie Smith is aiming to achieve Gold at the Paris Paralympic Games.
I hope you join me in cheering loudly for Australia – and especially for our Logan athletes.!
Our local supporters are even stronger this week because more than 400 Logan locals from over 40 countries took their pledge to become Australian citizens, At the recent citizenship ceremonies at Logan Entertainment Centre, I made sure our newest Aussies understood how important the “Aussie Aussie Aussie” war cry is to our success at Paris, and ran them through some drills to make sure they were loud enough! They’ll need it when they watch the Olympics on TV… and in person in 2032.
The City of Logan is getting its very own multi-use indoor venue for the 2032 Games, set to be built in Logan Central over the next few years.
With funding from the State and Federal governments, it means Logan will be on the world stage broadcasting indoor sports such as basketball when the Olympics come to town.
I can’t wait.
