The Palaszczuk Government's Youfor2032 Olympic and Paralympic athlete talent search is underway with young Far North Queenslanders sampling the Queensland Academy of Sport's (QAS) testing program for the elite stars of tomorrow.
Sport Minister and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Sport and Engagement Stirling Hinchliffe said Youfor2032 was Australia's largest ever athlete talent identification program.
"Youfor2032 registrations are now open to maximise Queensland's podium-ready athletes for the State's 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"This state-wide athlete identification program is part of Queensland's golden decade of opportunity to the 2032 Games.
"We're encouraging coaches, teachers and parents to nominate aspiring young FNQ athletes for a possible fast-track to 2032 with the QAS.
"QAS Talent scouts are expecting up to 50,000 Youfor2032 registrations.
"They'll pick the best 20,000 young Queenslanders for comprehensive testing over the next two-years.
"Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls will be tested for speed, endurance, agility, resilience, cognitive ability and determination for medals in 2032.
"At Barlow Park today, the QAS has given students a sample of the elite testing aspiring athletes can expect for the Youfor2032 tryouts.
"Queensland athletes won more than 40 per cent of Australia's Olympic and Paralympic medal haul and we want to build on that."
The QAS talent identification program -Youfor2032 - is looking for potential Olympians aged 13 to 23 and prospective Paralympians from 13 to 30.
Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said Youfor2032 wasn't the only road to the 2032 Games.
"There are many great Olympic and Paralympic pathways, Youfor2032 is about finding talented, young Far North Queenslanders with dreams of making the Olympics or Paralympics," Mr Healy said.
"We want to see Far North Queenslanders among the QAS top 400 with coaching support and world-class training facilities to be the best they can be"
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said budding young athletes in the Tropical North and Tablelands could make Queensland history.
"Youfor2032 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young FNQ athletes to go for gold, silver and bronze," Ms Lui said.
"The talent identification program is a chance for promising athletes to shine at the world's biggest elite sporting event, on Queensland soil."
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said Barlow Park was earmarked as an Olympic venue for 2032.
"It's great to have Olympic football preliminaries planned for Barlow Park, but the park's athletics track is where Youfor2032 might also find young Far North Queenslanders who can run faster, jump higher or throw further," Mr Pitt said.
"Whether you're in Yarrabah, Gordonvale, Cooktown, Cairns or on the Tablelands, if you know a young Queenslander with remarkable athletic potential, nominate them for Youfor2032.
"Queensland's medal winners at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games could be discovered anywhere in our vast State."
Member for Barron River and Minister Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said the Far North had always been home to champions.
"Grant 'Scooter' Patterson is a great example of the Far North delivering medal winners on the world stage," Mr Crawford said.
"A former Redlynch State College student, Grant achieved his childhood dream to grab Paralympic silver and bronze at last year's Tokyo Games."
The Palaszczuk Government has doubled QAS funding to $29.3 million to help high-performance experts cultivate Queensland's potential stars of 2032 in 17 sporting disciplines, including Triathlon, Swimming, Cycling BMX and Sprint Canoeing.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) congratulated the QAS on providing a strong pathway for Queenslanders to play Olympic sport.
"Youfor2032 will spread awareness, spark interest in Brisbane 2032 and hopefully inspire young athletes to chase their Olympic dreams," the AOC said.
Paralympics Australia CEO Catherine Clark said a Paralympics at home provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity not only for emerging para-athletes, but more broadly for people with a disability.
"High-performance requires incredible courage, hard work and perseverance. These are traits Queenslanders are renowned for, so I am confident we are going to unearth some exciting talent," Ms Clark said.
QAS Chief Executive Chelsea Warr said QAS would wrap its world class expertise around 400 selected athletes in systematic development programs in partnership with sporting codes.
"This is about widening the net further and ensuring no stone is left unturned in providing aspiring athletes with opportunity," Ms Warr said.
"Testing sessions will be organised in partnership with schools, universities, councils and school sport districts.
"We want to provide you an opportunity to see how good you could be, while recognising the journey of pursing excellence is demanding."
QAS Youfor2032 athletic testing in Far North Queensland is expected to begin in July.
To register for Youfor2032 go to: www.qld.gov.au/youfor2032
Barlow Park images are here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d2jydmy3r17p6uj/AACU7xlEh_xa6EE1CTpDfkYZa?dl=0
