“Sadly,only 35 per cent of our community facilities are considered female-friendly. That’s a challenge for us.
“If we want to get more girls and women playing the game,and to get to reach that[50/50] target,we’re going to need an extra 400,000 women and girls playing the game.”
Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Football Australia’s Sarah Walsh talking ‘legacy’ at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.Credit:Bradley Kanaris/Getty
Walsh conceded that was a “bold” aim,but the sport had a great vehicle in the Matildas to drive that growth.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles recognised that potential both for next year’s World Cup and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics,at which the Matildas will automatically qualify as hosts.
“Seeing the Matildas play next year,there’ll be lots of young girls who can look at that and do the math and work out that they could play here in 2032,” he said.
“I’m sure that will drive lots,lots more women to get involved.”
Earlier this month,Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the sport would make a concerted effort to ensure it benefitted long-term from major international football events,such as the World Cup and Olympics.
High on the list was a secondary rectangular stadium for Brisbane,with easy access to public transport. Every south-east Queensland train line goes through Bowen Hills station,opposite football’s spiritual home in the state,Perry Park.
The dilapidated inner-city stadium,which has not had a substantial upgrade since the 1970s,could host Olympic hockey in 2032with a temporary synthetic field.
Olympic bid documents listed rugby union’s Ballymore as a potential hockey venue,despite the Queensland government’s own Stadiums Taskforce 2018 report finding it did “not meet contemporary standards for access”. But,earlier this month,Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said thebid documents were not final plans and were subject to change.
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Standing behind a “#Legacy23” sign at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday,Miles,who has responsibility for 2032 Olympics infrastructure,said the World Cup would generate about $30 million of economic activity in the state.
It was left to be seen how much of that money the government would direct back into the game.
“We’re seeing such a surge of participation in football here in Queensland and we want to see that continue,” Miles said.
“In part,that’s been driven by a take-up of football by girls,and it’s a great sport for girls and young women and older women to play.
“We’ve been working with all of the codes,but particularly Football Queensland,to upgrade facilities,to make sure that they are appropriate for both men and women,boys and girls,and we’ll continue to do that.
“I think that will be a great legacy of having the Women’s World Cup here next year. We’ll see more players,more demand for those facilities will continue to invest in those facilities.”
The Matildas will play two friendly matches against Canada,at Suncorp Stadium on September 3,and at the newly rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium on September 6.
Brisbane will also host the Socceroos’ farewell match,against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium on September 22,before their Qatar World Cup campaign in November.
Walsh said about 20,000 tickets had been sold for the two Brisbane matches.