Today show host Karl Stefanovic says Brisbane needs to 'get their act together' for the 2032 Olympic Games
Karl Stefanovic has weighed in on the controversy surrounding plans for Brisbane's Olympics in 2032.
Currently in Paris to cover the 2024 Summer Games, the 49-year-old Today show host scoffed at a proposal to revamp an old venue in the city as Brisbane's 'main stage' for what promises to be a major international event.
'This is our time to show the world we've come of age,' the Nine star said during an interview on Brisbane's B105 Breakfast show, Stav, Abby & Matt.
'If you're going to do some s**t Olympic stadium then you may as well just give it up. It makes me so angry when you look at the opportunity.'
Karl's comments were in response to a new image of Brisbane's planned Olympic stadium which was revealed on Tuesday - and quickly received widespread criticism for looking very small and unimpressive.
Elsewhere in the chat, proud Queenslander Karl, gushed over the elaborate scale of the Paris Olympics and appeared to be concerned about whether the Games for Down Under in 2032 could compare.
'When you look at Paris and what's happening here,' he began. 'It does make that stadium they released yesterday look a little unremarkable.
'Brisbane and the vibe around it is going to be extraordinary, I am so pumped for it, and we really need to get our act together... You do not want to mess this up.
![Karl Stefanovic has weighed in on the controversy surrounding plans for Brisbane 's Olympics in 2032. In Paris to cover the Summer Games the 49-year-old Today host scoffed at a proposal to revamp an old venue in the city as Brisbane's 'main stage' for its Games in 8 years time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/25/05/87743181-13670429-image-a-33_1721882336416.jpg)
Karl Stefanovic has weighed in on the controversy surrounding plans for Brisbane 's Olympics in 2032. In Paris to cover the Summer Games the 49-year-old Today host scoffed at a proposal to revamp an old venue in the city as Brisbane's 'main stage' for its Games in 8 years time
'We need to get out s**t together and do it right,' he concluded.
Meanwhile, Brisbane 2032 Olympics boss Andrew Liveris hit back at claims the Queensland capital is a backward 'hillbilly town' - and is confident the city can host a spectacular Games in eight years' time.
Speaking in Paris after presenting to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Liveris conceded not everyone in Brisbane is elated about hosting the Games.
![Karl, a proud Queenslander gushed over the elaborate scale of the Paris Olympics and appeared to be concerned about whether the Games for Down Under in 2032 could compare](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/25/05/87743179-13670429-image-a-36_1721882440274.jpg)
Karl, a proud Queenslander gushed over the elaborate scale of the Paris Olympics and appeared to be concerned about whether the Games for Down Under in 2032 could compare
![This is our time to show the world we’ve come of age the Nine star said during an interview on Brisbane's B105 Breakfast show, Stav, Abby & Matt. Pictured: The proposed venue for OG2032](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/25/05/87743175-13670429-image-a-34_1721882397997.jpg)
This is our time to show the world we've come of age the Nine star said during an interview on Brisbane's B105 Breakfast show, Stav, Abby & Matt. Pictured: The proposed venue for OG2032
He revealed most of the negativity was sparked by the government's decision to not rebuild the Gabba, an iconic sporting venue in Brisbane.
Liveris then urged Queensland politicians to deliver on their promises and not change plans ahead of the Games.
'Stop making the Olympics a political football please ... this [hosting] is a gift, this is a great gift,' he said.
'Brisbane is not a hillbilly town ... it's not that strange place up north. It's very cosmopolitan.'
![The first image of Brisbane's planned Olympic stadium was revealed on Tuesday - and quickly received widespread criticism (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/25/05/87695697-13670429-It_comes_after_the_first_image_of_Brisbane_s_planned_Olympic_sta-a-37_1721882809932.jpg)
The first image of Brisbane's planned Olympic stadium was revealed on Tuesday - and quickly received widespread criticism (pictured)
Sports fans were stunned following the unveiling of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC).
In an underwhelming outcome, the Olympic stadium will only be able to hold 40,000 spectators - and will then be downsized to 14,000 once the Games conclude.
Eyebrows were first raised in March after the QSAC was chosen as the primary Olympics venue, which saw the planned $2.7billion rebuild of the Gabba formally abandoned.
The Brisbane Olympics are set to run from July 23 to August 8 in 2032.