The Australian Organising Committee for the Olympic Games has sparked some interstate rivalry by proposing that the upcoming Games in Brisbane be marketed using the Sydney Opera House.

In case you missed it, Brisbane is set to host the sporting event in seven years, with the official handover occurring at the closing ceremony of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. 

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As part of the preparations for that event, Andrew Liveris, President of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, announced plans to showcase Australia’s host role by featuring key national symbols, including the Opera House.

“It’s essential for Australia to be visible, and the iconography is crucial,” Liveris stated, according to Courier Mail.

“We’ll highlight Australia, and that might involve the Opera House.”

Liveris mentioned showcasing the Opera House to promote the 2032 Games. (Image source: LinkedIn)

Quick reminder: the Sydney Opera House is indeed in Sydney, which has led to some strong criticism about promoting Brisbane through that landmark. 

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Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Craig Davidson insisted “there’s no way” the 2032 Brisbane Olympics should be promoted with anything other than Queensland’s unique trademarks, emphasizing Brisbane’s famous river and attractions like Moreton Island and Stradbroke Island. 

“It would be a huge missed opportunity if we showcased anything other than Queensland,” Davidson emphasized. 

The River City will grab the Olympic baton from LA in 2028. (Image source: Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)

From her perspective, Committee for Brisbane CEO Jen Williams expressed that it would be “extremely disappointing” if organizers chose interstate landmarks over local ones, highlighting Brisbane as “the most ‘Australian’ of all our cities” with “everything that embodies Australia”. 

Meanwhile, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed he didn’t see the necessity of promoting Brisbane via the Opera House, pointing out that Sydney already “had its moment” with the Olympic Games back in 2000. 

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However, it wasn’t just Brisbane representatives who voiced opinions, as the idea also stirred some (mostly) friendly competition among social media users. 

“Sydney carrying all the weight once again,” one user (likely from the Harbour City) commented, while another agreed that “Brisbane has nothing to show for”. 

Clearly, that user isn’t familiar with Bluey or Robert Irwin, two Queensland-born icons who’ve gained international fame. If Robert isn’t featured in the promo, preferably with a snake around him, I’ll be quite upset.   

(Image source: TikTok)

On the flip side, proud Brisbane locals highlighted some of the state’s famous landmarks, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Gold Coast, while others jabbed at NSW as a state where “fun is completely banned”. 

Ouch!  

Despite the ongoing debate, Liveris noted that the plan to announce Brisbane at the conclusion of the LA Games is still in its early stages, with organizers aiming to enlist talent and creative teams for the promotional campaign in the upcoming year. 

(Image source: TikTok)

Perhaps the sentiment that resonates most amid all the commentary is one shared by a TikTok user who remarked that regardless of the promotional approach, the Games “returning to Australia is a win for us as a nation”.

In that same spirit, can’t we all just get along?

Lead images: Getty Images and Sydney Opera House/Instagram