Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk marked the occasion early by opening a new high-performance training complex at Chandler, determined, she said, not to waste a second of the time her government had available to deliver the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet.

Palaszczuk will be on the Olympic track again tomorrow, attending a Property Council lunch In Brisbane, where she will be joined by federal Sport Minister Anika Wells and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

“Brisbane 2032 is a transformational, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all Queenslanders,” she said.

“It’s no accident we’re out of the starters’ blocks early to maximise Games’ planning and legacy outcomes for Queenslanders.

“We’re investing in training infrastructure and elite coaching to give young Queensland athletes the best opportunities to be podium ready for a home Games in 2032.”

The $2.1 million spend upgrading the Sleeman Sports Complex at Chandler, originally developed for Brisbane’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 1982, will expand training options for athletes, with the facilities part of the Queensland Academy of Sport network that includes:

• A $2.7 million partnership in the National Throws Centre, now under construction
• A $10 million high-performance gym at Nathan
• And a $1 million investment in the National BMX Freestyle Park on the Gold Coast.

Palaszczuk said Chandler would be the “one-stop-shop” to give athletes training infrastructure for the Olympics and Paralympics and Winter Olympics.

“We are right behind our athletes, ensuring they are provided with world class experts and the right daily training environments to be competitive on the world stage,” she said.

Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said that in addition to the infrastructure investments, the Emerging Athlete Pathways program had been improved to help young athletes, coaches and officials with the cost of competition travel and accommodation.

“Eligible Queenslanders can now receive support before their event, instead of after and the minimum travel distance is halved to 125 km, so more athletes qualify,” he said.

“We’re on our decade-long green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032 and programs like this are important for maximising Queensland’s potential on the world-stage.”

Selected young athletes from 10-18, coaches and officials can apply for $500 to compete or officiate at a state or state school event, $600 for a national or national school event or $800 for an international event.

While planning progresses on the sporting event, the State government is also focusing on how to capitalise on the benefits the Olympic Games will generate for Queensland after the closing ceremony.

To assist in that goal, 12 Queenslanders have been appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Committee.

Palaszczuk said 2032 would be the “biggest, single transformational event in Queensland’s history”, providing opportunities that will accrue for decades.

“This is Queensland’s time to shine,” she said.

“I will be asking these committee members to be the voice for their street, their community, their school, workplace and for all Queenslanders, and to think big in imagining the positive legacy these games can have in transforming our state.”

Included on the Legacy Committee are seven women – Georgina Richters, Diaswati Mardiasmo, Imogen Ruyg, Ingrid Proud, Danya Hodgetts, Ashleigh Morris and Sharon Boyce.

The other committee members are Cameron Costello, Wayne Gerard, Cameron Pegg and John Wagner.

A free ‘the 10-years-to-go’ Green and Gold Runway community event will be held at Brisbane South Bank Parklands on Saturday from noon to 4pm.