Australia has a rich history of bidding for and hosting major international multi-sport events and world championships. It has hosted two Summer Olympics, one Summer Paralympics and four Commonwealth Games.
Australian Government provides funding for the hosting of major sports events in Australia. It provided $247.3 million in funding for the hosting of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympics. [1] In recent years, it has provided funding to 2015 Asian Cup, 2015 Cricket World Cup, 2015 Netball World Cup and 2018 Commonwealth Games. [2] For the 2015 Cricket World Cup, it provided $14 million in funding. [3] Its objectives in providing funding were to inspire Australian children to be active as well as providing a boost to the economy. [3] The event held in both Australia and New Zealand was expected to inject $360 million directly into both economies. [3]
Several Australian state and territory governments have established major event organisations to assist in the bidding and financing for major international sporting events in Australia. Their objectives are to improve their economies through tourism and further develop community and sporting facilities. Examples of these organisations are Victorian Major Events Company, Events New South Wales and Tourism and Events Queensland.
The cost of bidding and hosting sporting events has sometimes come under scrutiny. It was reported that Melbourne's 2014 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix cost taxpayers almost $60 million. This was an additional $9.3 million than 2013 and due to declining ticket sales and increased costs. [4] Australia unsuccessfully bidded for he 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cups. The bid was managed by Football Federation Australia and was granted $42 million in Australian Government funding. [5] The bid came under scrutiny as only one vote out of 22 of the FIFA Executive Committee members was obtained and the ethics of Australia's bidding process. [5]
Includes international multi-sport events that are held on a regular schedule.
| Year | Dates | International Event | City | Sports | Countries | Competitors | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | 5–12 February | British Empire Games | Sydney | 8 | 15 | 464 | |
| 1956 | 22 November – 8 December | Summer Olympic Games [6] | Melbourne | 17 | 72 | 3,314 | 1,341,483 |
| 1962 | 22 November – 1 December | British Empire and Commonwealth Games [7] | Perth, Western Australia | 9 | 35 | 863 | 224,987 |
| 1962 | 10–17 November | Commonwealth Paraplegic Games [8] | Perth, Western Australia | 14 | 9 | 93 | n/a |
| 1977 | 20–27 November | FESPIC Games | Sydney | 12 | 15 | 310 | n/a |
| 1982 | 30 September – 9 October | Commonwealth Games [9] | Brisbane, Queensland | 11 | 46 | 1,583 | 481,313 |
| 1985 | 26 January – 5 February | Australia Games [10] | Melbourne | 24 | 31 | 1,848 | 92,767 [11] |
| 1994 | 26 September – 8 October 1994 | World Masters Games [12] | Brisbane, Queensland | 30 | 74 | 24,500 | n/a |
| 1995 | 26 February – 4 March | World Police and Fire Games [13] | Melbourne | 62 | 44 | 6,820 | n/a |
| 1997 | 29 September – 5 October | World Transplant Games [14] | Sydney | 58 | 1,000 (est) | n/a | |
| 2000 | 15 September – 1 October | Summer Olympic Games [15] | Sydney | 28 | 199 | 10,651 | 6.7 million tickets sold [16] |
| 2000 | 18–29 October | Summer Paralympic Games [17] | Sydney | 20 | 127 | 3,846 | 1,159,249 tickets sold [18] |
| 2001 | 29 August – 9 September | 5th Goodwill Games [19] | Brisbane, Queensland | 14 | 1300 | 280,135 | |
| 2002 | 2–9 November | Gay Games [20] | Sydney | 31 | 77 | 12,099 | n/a |
| 2002 | 5–13 October 2002 | World Masters Games [21] | Melbourne | 26 | 98 | 24,886 | n/a |
| 2004 | 30 November – 3 December | Commonwealth Youth Games | Bendigo, Victoria | 10 | 24 | 1,000 (est) | n/a |
| 2005 | 5–16 January | Summer Deaflympics [22] | Melbourne | 14 | 63 | 2,038 | n/a |
| 2006 | 15–26 March | Commonwealth Games [23] | Melbourne | 17 | 71 | 4,500 (est) | 1.5 million tickets sold [24] |
| 2007 | 16–25 March | World Police and Fire Games [25] | Adelaide, South Australia | 75 | 60 | 8,000 (est) | n/a |
| 2009 | 10–18 October | World Masters Games [26] | Sydney | 28 | 95 | 28,676 | n/a |
| 2009 | 22–30 August | World Transplant Games [27] | Gold Coast, Queensland | 12 | 990 | n/a | |
| 2013 | 1–7 December 2013 | Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games [28] | Newcastle, New South Wales | 9 | 29 | 2,500 (est) | n/a |
| 2018 | 4–15 April | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Queensland | 18 | 71 | 4,426 | 1.2 million tickets [29] |
| 2018 | 18-29 October | Invictus Games | Sydney, New South Wales | 12 | 18 | 500 estimated | |
| 2019 | October | INAS Global Games | Brisbane, Queensland | 10 | 47 | 1000 [30] | |
| 2023 | 15 - 21 April | World Transplant Games | Perth, Western Australia | ||||
| 2026 | To be determined | XXIII Commonwealth Games | Victoria (Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland), Australia | ||||
| 2032 | To be determined | 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games | Brisbane, Queensland | ||||
| 2032 | To be determined | 2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games | Brisbane, Queensland |
(est) – estimate in reports
n/a – not applicable as event primarily for participants and low number of paying spectators
Other international multi-sport events that are held in an Australia on a regular basis are:
Includes world championships, regional championships and high-profile international events. These events are held throughout the world on a regular schedule.
International events that are held in Australia annually. These events include both Australian and overseas athletes and teams.
Most national teams including Men's cricket, Southern Stars (women's cricket), Diamonds (women's netball) Socceroos (men's football), Matildas (women's football), Kookaburras (men's hockey), Hockeyroos (women's hockey), Boomers (men's basketball), Opals (women's basketball), Stingers (women's water polo), Sharks (men's water polo) and Volleyroos (men's volleyball) often play international matches in Australia during the year.