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he Ministry of Sport Women in Sport Summit 2021 took place on Friday, June 25 at USC Stadium, delivered in partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Tourism and Events Queensland.

Queensland Academy of Sport CEO, Chelsea Warr, spoke at the event on her years of experience across Olympic high-performance sport and the hopes of preparing young Australian athletes for a home Games in Brisbane in 2032.

Reflecting on a key moment from the Summit, Warr said: “It was really interesting to hear Rebecca McCloy from Foxtel’s insights about the enormous rise of viewership of women’s teams sports, in particular the AFLW.”

“There was no AFLW when I left Australia years ago, so I haven’t tracked it, but I was looking at the statistics of the league and its really impressive.

“There’s a phenomenal opportunity ahead.

“The lingering thought is to reflect more about how 50% of our athletes are female and phenomenal role models.

“There might be an opportunity to think more strategically and operationally about how we can support them in their endeavours, whether its through more commercialisation and sponsorship, or even just more profile.

“We know the stories they can tell are really important and they are a great asset for us and it’s made me think a little more about how we can leverage it for them even more,” she said.

Speaking about the opportunity facing Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Warr said a home Games is a life-changing experience.

“The opportunity to host a home Games, having experienced Sydney 2000 and also London 2012, is probably one of the most life-changing experiences, both career wise and personal wise,” Warr said.

“It’s transformational.

“The thought that of all the places in the world, Brisbane might be holding that very special opportunity and privilege in 2032, having the eyes of the world watching, would be an incredible endeavour not only for the state but for the nation.

“It has benefits not only on economic impact and infrastructure, but most importantly for me, the opportunity to unite.

“There’s so many young and talented athletes in the state and in the nation that would love the opportunity to see how good they can be and this will give them the runaway to achieve that.

“It’s not a long time to go, because the athletes have to be ready by 2028.

“We have to grip that opportunity and turn it into a practical reality and show the world how good we are.

“I know the Queensland Academy of Sport will play an extremely important role in making sure our athletes are best prepared,” she said.

On the current medal decline the Australian Olympic Team finds itself in since the successes of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Warr said: “We’ve had five cycles of medal decline since Sydney 2000, my experience is when you have to turn that decline around quickly, you need a burning platform for change.”

“It will either be a big threat or massive opportunity that will turn things around, and this is a fantastic opportunity.

“Getting the state and the nation behind that and making sure we’re prepared, is really exciting to consider how it might all be possible,” she said.

Over the coming weeks, Ministry of Sport will be releasing video footage from the Women in Sport Summit, including Chelsea Warr’s keynote speech.