Swimming Australia is bringing together everyone involved in swimming to deliver on a decade of opportunity as we look towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
We have undertaken a nation-wide consultation process to inform the development of Swimming Australia’s BNE 2032 Swimming Legacy Impact Strategy, including an open online survey and roundtables with partners and stakeholders from across the swimming community.
The Legacy Strategy will consider how our home Games can make a real and positive difference to all Australians through swimming.
Swimming Australia explored a range of legacy outcomes through the consultation process, with the following themes and objectives emerging as priorities:
- PARTICIPATION – strengthening swimming’s position as Australia’s leading participation sport by growing participation in all forms and at all levels, with a focus on increasing club membership.
- PERFORMANCE – cementing swimming’s position as Australia’s leading Olympic and Paralympic sport by achieving sustained performance success before and beyond 2032.
- PATHWAYS – strengthening performance pathways for the development of the next generation of athletes and coaches.
- PLACES – improving infrastructure and facilities outcomes to support swimming’s growth and development, including for performance, pathways, events, club and community participation.
- PARTNERSHIPS – developing purposeful partnerships that expand swimming’s reach and impact and enhance swimming’s value, including by working with the aquatics industry, commercial and broadcast partners, governments and community organisations.
- PROFILE – building the profile of swimming to support strategic priorities, including commercial, communications, participation and performance objectives.
- PEOPLE – supporting people and promoting social impact as central to swimming’s growth and success, including athletes, coaches, staff, officials, members, volunteers and fans.
Swimming Australia has also established a BNE 2032 Legacy Advisory Committee, chaired by Grant Hackett OAM, with representatives from across the whole of the swimming community.
“Developing a strong and inspiring legacy unequivocally helps support the dreams and aspirations of future generations in swimming.” – Grant Hackett
“We should be ensuring we strengthen our swimming pathways through the provision of world class facilities, coaches and support. To be successful in 2032 we need a larger talent pool and structured pathways that identify, develop and support athletes throughout their entire journey,” – Kirsten Thomson, CEO, Swimming NSW
“I want to see future generations growing up in Australia seeing para and able bodied athletes as equal, and that it’s not even a second thought” – Ellie Cole, Paralympian
Swimming Australia will continue to work with the Advisory Committee as well as other partners and stakeholders to finalise and deliver the Legacy Strategy.
Ongoing collaboration across our network of partners and stakeholders will be critical to successful implementation as we embark on a decade of opportunity on the path to 2032.
The following groups in our ecosystem have participated in the Strategy development process and will be critical to its successful implementation:
- World Aquatics and Oceania Aquatics
- Games Partners (Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Australia and Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee)
- Swimming Australia Board, Executive and staff
- Swimming Australia Member Organisations (States, Territory, ASCTA and ASA)
- Federal Government, including the Australian Sports Commission and Office for Sport
- State Governments, including venues, sport and tourism agencies.
- Local Governments
- National Institute Network
- Aquatics industry, including ASCTA, AUSTSWIM, ASSA, RLSA and SLSA
- Aquatic sports, including affiliates Masters, Diving, Water Polo and Artistic Swimming
- Clubs, schools, and learn to swim centres
- Venues and swim schools
- Sponsors, partners and licensees
- Coaches and swim teachers
- Technical Officials
- Current and former Dolphins
- Competitive and recreational swimmers
- Swimming parents, volunteers, fans and spectators
- “Australia’s history is littered with fantastic First Nations sports stars. If we can equip our communities with facilities and skills, by 2032 we will have a pod of First Nations Dolphins” – Cameron Costello
“We have a lot of pools in this country, so learn to swim is more than a hobby, it’s lifesaving” – Zarin Hakimi, Afghanistan refugee, learn to swim instructor.
