Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia - There was no fanfare. No iconic announcement. An Australian push to host the 2032 Olympics was elevated overnight to the status of preferred bid, and the people of Brisbane and southeast Queensland state woke up to the news on Thursday morning. It’s not a done deal yet, but powerful Olympic official John Coates is vowing to get it across the finish line when the IOC makes the final call, which could be within 12 months. “It was a long night . . . but a very mature decision from the IOC. To take a decision when you’ve still got a few other cities there and say ‘well, we’re going to go into targeted dialogue with one preferred city’ was a big call by them,” Coates said Thursday. “The IOC now deal exclusively with us while we complete the questionnaire. The other cities who have shown interest have been parked . . . it’s significant recognition.” I OC president Thomas Bach told a news conference in Switzerland on Wednesday that an IOC panel overseeing the bid … [Read more...] about Brisbane already preparing for 2032 Olympics

SYDNEY: Queensland Reds will take on the ACT Brumbies in the first Super Rugby AU final next weekend after they outlasted the Melbourne Rebels 25-13 in a tight playoff contest at Lang Park in Brisbane on Saturday. An early Jordan Petaia intercept try and second-half efforts from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Filipo Daugunu along with 10 points from the boot of James O'Connor proved enough to earn the Reds a trip to Canberra for next Saturday's title-decider. "It's awesome," said Reds captain Liam Wright. "We've given ourselves a chance, which is all we wanted from tonight. Keep fighting and give ourselves a chance to reach for it next week." The Rebels, who have been on the road for three months because of a second spike in COVID-19 cases in their home city, again struggled to turn possession into points against a rugged Reds defence. They were level at 10-10 at the break after Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete picked the ball up at a ruck and raced away for an opportunistic try … [Read more...] about Reds edge Rebels in playoff to set up Brumbies final

MELBOURNE: The women's cricket teams of Australia and New Zealand will make their return to the field for the first time since March in a condensed series in Brisbane in September, Cricket Australia said on Saturday. The World Twenty20 champions Australia will play their trans-Tasman neighbours in three T20 internationals and three one-day matches over 12 days. This week Cricket Australia said their cricket season was likely to be played in hubs and in a concentrated period of time to comply with strict coronavirus protocols. New Zealand will arrive in Australia on Sept. 9 and undergo a 14-day isolation period. Australian players from the states of New South Wales and Victoria will arrive in Brisbane on Sept. 6 and also enter isolation before joining the rest of the squad on Sept. 20. The first T20 game is set to be played at Allan Border Field on Sept. 26, with further matches on Sept. 27 and 30 before one-day internationals on Oct. 3, Oct. 5 and Oct. 7. The … [Read more...] about Cricket: Australia confirm first women’s series under COVID protocols

SYDNEY: New Australia coach Dave Rennie might not have enjoyed watching the Super Rugby AU playoff on the eve of his first squad announcement on Saturday after a string of Wallabies limped off the pitch at Lang Park. Queensland Reds centre Jordan Petaia scored an early try in his team's 25-13 victory in Brisbane before coming off for a head injury assessment and not returning. Melbourne Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty was forced off the pitch with a groin twinge with his flyhalf Matt To'omua also needing to be replaced when he pulled up after a kick. "I just got a little bit tight in the hip there ... we'll see how it goes," said To'omua, who will be vying for the Wallabies number 10 shirt. Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese, who played in five of Australia's matches at the World Cup last year, was a late addition to the injury list when he departed clutching his forearm. Petaia's backline team mate Chris Feauai-Sautia, who has not played a test since two appearances in 2013, … [Read more...] about Wallabies injured in playoff ahead of squad announcement

SYDNEY: Australia's limited overs squad will quarantine at a hotel attached to Adelaide Oval when they return home after their tour of England ends next week, Cricket Australia said on Saturday. In what looks like a dry run for the arrival of the India squad for a blockbuster tests series later this year, the Australian players will be able to train at Adelaide Oval throughout their mandatory period of collective isolation. The much anticipated four-test tour by India around the new year is the highlight of the summer and vital to the finances of Cricket Australia, which have been buffeted by the COVID-19 pandemic. South Australia has been relatively successful at containing the spread of the new coronavirus and Adelaide has been mooted as one of the more likely destinations for the Indian players when they touch down in Australia. "We are happy that we are able to assist the Australian men's cricket team on their return to South Australia and at Adelaide Oval in the Oval … [Read more...] about Australia to quarantine in Adelaide on return from Europe