While the LA28 double climbing stage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is still over two years away, the IFSC leadership is already working toward Brisbane 2032.

A recent visit by IFSC President Marco Scolaris to the Australian host city, accompanied by Vice President Naomi Cleary, gave the opportunity to explore various possibilities for climbing and Para Climbing in Brisbane while waiting for the IOC's decisions on the 2032 Games' program.

One of the first acts of the new IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, was to create four working groups under the title "Fit for the Future". Particularly, the Olympic Programme Working Group will focus on the sports programme. It will look to find a balance between the size of the Games, the relevance of the sports and disciplines, the integration of new sports and disciplines, and, potentially, identifying ways for sports to be added to or removed from the programme through a clear and transparent process. It will also consider the suggestion that traditional summer or winter sports could cross over, the timing of the Games, and the sports calendar.

With the future in mind, President Scolaris, Vice President Cleary, President of Sport Climbing Australia Philip Goebel and Sport Climbing Australia CEO Rebecca Hamilton met with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) in Brisbane. They were received by AOC President Ian Chesterman and CEO Mark Arbib in their beautiful office on the Sydney Harbor.

Scolaris and Cleary then moved to Brisbane and to the headquarters of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee. They met with CEO Cindy Hook, Chief Sport Officer Kit McConnell and Director of Sport Brendan Keane.

Scolaris said: “The main goal of this mission was to start building a strong relationship with the sport authorities in Australia and the Organising Committee of Brisbane 2032. We chose the same approach as in Los Angeles. For us, Games Organisers do not represent a mere delivery entity, but they are partners in a long journey where the final goal is the success of the Games, as well as the sports legacy for the hosting country.

"Following the success of Paris 2024, we, like all other sports, look forward to the IOC decision on the Olympic Programme in 2026.

"We remain confident that the assessment of our sport will ensure its inclusion in the sports programme for Brisbane 2032, as was successfully achieved for LA28. This would also ensure the continuation of the Paralympic dream for our Para climbers.”

Cleary said: “It was a pleasure to meet with the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee as well as the Australian Olympic Committee who share a very positive attitude toward our sport and the possibilities for what we can present here in 2032.”

Scolaris concluded: “I learnt a lot from this trip, and I even had the possibility to climb twice, once at 9 Degrees Waterloo, and once outside, at The Front Line, in Western Sydney. What a great experience this visit was!”

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Main picture: Kit McConnell (Chief Sport Officer Brisbane 2032), Marco Scolaris, Cindy Hook (CEO Brisbane 2032), Naomi Cleary, Brendan Keane (Director of Sport Brisbane 2032)

Picture below: Mark Arbib (CEO Australian Olympic Committee), Ian Chesterman (President Australian Olympic Committee), Marco Scolaris, Naomi Cleary, Philip Goebel (Chair of Sport Climbing Australia) at the NOC premises.