World Netball (WN) and Netball Australia (NA) are actively working to secure a spot for netball in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. During a recent virtual meeting between WN CEO Fiona Harold, NA CEO Stacey West, NA President Liz Ellis AO, and Brisbane 2032 CEO Cindy Hook, the focus was on the feasibility and potential benefits of including netball in the Olympic program.
Harold emphasized that WN has undertaken a comprehensive feasibility study and consulted stakeholders to ensure the bid aligns with the sport’s growth and development. She stated, “Netball’s inclusion in the Olympics would greatly enhance the Olympic movement and significantly contribute to World Netball’s core strategies.”
Stacey West highlighted the sport’s popularity in Australia, indicating that netball is the leading sport for women and girls in the country. “We want to play on the world’s biggest sporting stage at the Olympics in our home country, and we’re doing the work to see what’s possible,” West added.
This initiative comes at a time when netball is experiencing a surge in popularity, as evidenced by recent successes, such as the Crest Fiji men’s netball team’s victory in the Nations Cup in Singapore. Their achievement has opened opportunities for further international competition, including participation in next year’s Men’s Nations Cup and a tournament in Australia, as noted by Netball Fiji President RubyAnn Sorovaki.
As efforts for Olympic inclusion continue, both World Netball and Netball Australia remain committed to dialogues with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to bring netball into the global spotlight further, showcasing the sport on one of the largest platforms in the world.
These developments indicate a bright future for netball, reflecting both its growing influence and the potential to inspire a new generation of players and fans worldwide.
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