List of international sports events in Australia explained

Australia has a rich history of bidding for and hosting major international multi-sport events and world championships. It has hosted two Summer Olympics, one Summer Paralympics and four Commonwealth Games.

Background

Australian Government provides funding for the hosting of major sports events in Australia. It provided $247.3 million in funding for the hosting of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympics.^[1] In recent years, it has provided funding to 2015 Asian Cup, 2015 Cricket World Cup, 2015 Netball World Cup and 2018 Commonwealth Games.^[2] For the 2015 Cricket World Cup, it provided $14 million in funding.^[3] Its objectives in providing funding were to inspire Australian children to be active as well as providing a boost to the economy.^[3] The event held in both Australia and New Zealand was expected to inject $360 million directly into both economies.^[3]

Several Australian state and territory governments have established major event organisations to assist in the bidding and financing for major international sporting events in Australia. Their objectives are to improve their economies through tourism and further develop community and sporting facilities. Examples of these organisations are Victorian Major Events Company, Events New South Wales and Tourism and Events Queensland.

The cost of bidding and hosting sporting events has sometimes come under scrutiny. It was reported that Melbourne's 2014 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix cost taxpayers almost $60 million. This was an additional $9.3 million than 2013 and due to declining ticket sales and increased costs.^[4] Australia unsuccessfully bidded for he 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cups. The bid was managed by Football Federation Australia and was granted $42 million in Australian Government funding.^[5] The bid came under scrutiny as only one vote out of 22 of the FIFA Executive Committee members was obtained and the ethics of Australia's bidding process.^[5]

International multi-sport competitions

Includes international multi-sport events that are held on a regular schedule.

Year	Dates	International Event	City	Sports	Countries	Competitors	Attendance
1938	5–12 February	British Empire Games	Sydney	8	15	464
1956	22 November – 8 December	Summer Olympic Games^[6]	Melbourne	17	72	3,314	1,341,483
1962	22 November – 1 December	British Empire and Commonwealth Games^[7]	Perth, Western Australia	9	35	863	224,987
1962	10–17 November	Commonwealth Paraplegic Games^[8]	Perth, Western Australia	14	9	93	n/a
1977	20–27 November	FESPIC Games	Sydney	12	15	310	n/a
1982	30 September – 9 October	Commonwealth Games^[9]	Brisbane, Queensland	11	46	1,583	481,313
1985	26 January – 5 February	Australia Games^[10]	Melbourne	24	31	1,848	92,767^[11]
1994	26 September – 8 October 1994	World Masters Games^[12]	Brisbane, Queensland	30	74	24,500	n/a
1995	26 February – 4 March	World Police and Fire Games^[13]	Melbourne	62	44	6,820	n/a
1997	29 September – 5 October	World Transplant Games^[14]	Sydney		58	1,000 (est)	n/a
2000	15 September – 1 October	Summer Olympic Games^[15]	Sydney	28	199	10,651	6.7 million tickets sold^[16]
2000	18–29 October	Summer Paralympic Games^[17]	Sydney	20	127	3,846	1,159,249 tickets sold^[18]
2001	29 August – 9 September	5th Goodwill Games^[19]	Brisbane, Queensland		14	1300	280,135
2002	2–9 November	Gay Games^[20]	Sydney	31	77	12,099	n/a
2002	5–13 October 2002	World Masters Games^[21]	Melbourne	26	98	24,886	n/a
2004	30 November – 3 December	Commonwealth Youth Games	Bendigo, Victoria	10	24	1,000 (est)	n/a
2005	5–16 January	Summer Deaflympics^[22]	Melbourne	14	63	2,038	n/a
2006	15–26 March	Commonwealth Games^[23]	Melbourne	17	71	4,500 (est)	1.5 million tickets sold^[24]
2007	16–25 March	World Police and Fire Games^[25]	Adelaide, South Australia	75	60	8,000 (est)	n/a
2009	10–18 October	World Masters Games^[26]	Sydney	28	95	28,676	n/a
2009	22–30 August	World Transplant Games^[27]		12		990	n/a
2013	1–7 December 2013	Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games^[28]	Newcastle, New South Wales	9	29	2,500 (est)	n/a
2018	4–15 April	Commonwealth Games	Gold Coast, Queensland	18	71	4,426	1.2 million tickets^[29]
2018	18-29 October	Invictus Games	Sydney, New South Wales	12	18	500 estimated
2019	October	INAS Global Games	Brisbane, Queensland	10	47	1000^[30]
2023	15 - 21 April	World Transplant Games	Perth, Western Australia
2026	To be determined	XXIII Commonwealth Games	Victoria (Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland), Australia
2032	To be determined	2032 Brisbane Olympic Games	Brisbane, Queensland
2032	To be determined	2032 Brisbane Paralympic Games	Brisbane, Queensland

(est) – estimate in reports
n/a – not applicable as event primarily for participants and low number of paying spectators

Other international multi-sport events that are held in an Australia on a regular basis are:

• Australian Youth Olympic Festival – commenced in 2007 and is biannual event organised by the Australian Olympic Committee. invited.
• Arafura Games – commenced in 1991 and is biannual event held in Darwin, Northern Territory. Athletes with a disability are invited to compete. It was not held in 2013.

International sports championships

Includes world championships, regional championships and high-profile international events. These events are held throughout the world on a regular schedule.

Sport	Year	Dates	Event	City	Countries	Competitors	Attendance
	1991	3–13 January	FINA World Championships	Perth, Western Australia	59	1142	42,000^[31]
Aquatic sports – Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized swimming	1998	8–17 January	FINA World Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Aquatic sports – Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Synchronized swimming	2007	18 March – 1 April	FINA World Championships	Melbourne	167	2,158
Athletics	1985	4–6 October	IAAF World Cup	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Athletics	1987	29 November – 6 December	World Masters Athletics Championships	Melbourne
Athletics	1996	20–25 August	World Junior Championships	Sydney
Athletics	2001	1–14 July	World Masters Athletics Championships	Brisbane, Queensland
Athletics	2016	26 October – 6 November	World Masters Athletics Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Athletics	2023	18 February	World Athletics Cross Country Championships	Bathurst, New South Wales
Archery	1977	8 – 11 February	World Championships	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Archery	1987	March	World Championships	Adelaide, South Australia
Baseball	1985		Asian Baseball Championship	Perth, Western Australia	5
Baseball	1985	26 February – 7 March	Asian Baseball Championship	Perth, Western Australia	7
Basketball	1994	2–12 June	FIBA World Championship for Women	Sydney	16	192
Basketball	2022	23 Sept - 3 Oct	FIBA Women's World Cup	Sydney	12
Bowls	1966	10–23 October	World Outdoor Championship (Men)	Sydney
Bowls	1969	4–12 December	World Outdoor Bowls Championship (Women)	Sydney
Bowls	1980	17 January – 2 February	World Outdoor Championship (Men)	Melbourne
Bowls	1985	13 February – 4 March	World Outdoor Championship (Women)	Melbourne
Bowls	1996	18–31 March	World Outdoor Championships (Men)	Adelaide, South Australia
Bowls	2000	8–26 March	World Outdoor Championship (Women)	Moama, New South Wales
Bowls	2012	24 November – 9 December 2012	World Outdoor Championships	Adelaide, South Australia	31
Bowls	2020	23 May – 7 June	World Outdoor Championships	Gold Coast, Queensland			^[32]
Boxing	1991	15–23 November	World Amateur Championships	Sydney
Canoeing	2005	30 September – 4 October	ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships	Sydney
Canoeing	2025		ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships	Sydney
Cricket	1988	29 November – 18 December	Women's World Cup	Australia
Cricket	1992	22 February – 25 March	Men's World Cup	Australia and New Zealand	9
Cricket	2009	7–22 March	Women's World Cup	Australia	8
Cricket	2015	14 February – 29 March	Men's World Cup	Australia and New Zealand	14	210	1,016,420 (20,743 per match)
Cricket	2020	21 February - 8 March	ICC Women's T20 World Cup	Australia	10	150	136,549 (86,174 final)^[33]
Cricket	2022	16 October -13 November.	ICC Men's T20 World Cup	Australia	16
Cycling	1989		World BMX Championships	Brisbane, Queensland
Cycling	1996	20–22 September	UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships	Cairns, Queensland
Cycling	1997	27–31 August	UCI Track Cycling World Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Cycling	2003	23–27 July	UCI BMX World Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Cycling	2004	26–30 May	UCI Track Cycling World Championships	Melbourne
Cycling	2009	1–6 September	UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Cycling	2009	24–26 July	UCI BMX World Championships	Adelaide, South Australia
Cycling	2010	29 September – 3 October	UCI Road World Championships	Melbourne and Geelong, Victoria
Cycling	2012	4–8 April	UCI Track Cycling World Championships	Melbourne
Cycling	2017		UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships	Cairns, Queensland
Cycling	2022	18 - 25 September	UCI Road World Championships
Cycling	2026		UCI BMX World Championships	Brisbame, Queensland
Football	1981	3–18 October	FIFA World Youth Championship	Australia	16	288	443,094
Football	1993	5–20 March	FIFA World Youth Championship	Australia	16	288	478,003
Football	2015	9–31 January	AFC Asian Cup	Australia	16	368	649,705
Football	2023	10 July–20 August	2023 FIFA Women's World Cup	Australia and New Zealand	32	736
Gliding	1974	12–27 January	World Championships	Waikerie, South Australia
Gliding	1987		World Championships	Benalla, Victoria
Gliding	2001	7–27 January	World Championships	Gawler, South Australia
Gliding	2016	January	World Championships	Benalla, Victoria
Golf	1959	18–21 November	Men's World Cup	Melbourne
Golf	1968	9–12 October	Eisenhower Trophy	Melbourne
Golf	1972	8–12 November	Men's World Cup	Melbourne	44	88
Golf	1988	8–11 December	Men's World Cup	Melbourne
Golf	1998	1–13 December	Presidents Cup	Melbourne
Golf	2001	3–7 January	WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship	Melbourne
Golf	2007	7–9 December	Lexus Cup	Perth
Golf	2008	16–19 October	Eisenhower Trophy	Adelaide
Golf	2011	17–20 November	Presidents Cup	Melbourne
Golf	2013	21-24 November	World Cup of Golf	Melbourne
Golf	2016	24–27 November	World Cup of Golf	Melbourne
Golf	2018	22–25 November	World Cup of Golf	Melbourne
Golf	2019	12–15 December	Presidents Cup	Melbourne			^[34]
Golf	2028		Presidents Cup	Melbourne			^[35]
Golf	2040		Presidents Cup	Melbourne
Gymnastics	1994	19–24 April	World Artistic Gymnastics Championships	Brisbane, Queensland	54	281^[36]
Gymnastics	1998	9–11 October	Trampoline World Championships	Sydney
Gymnastics	2005	21–27 November	World Artistic Gymnastics Championships	Melbourne	53	300	40,000^[37]
Field hockey	1994	23 November – 4 December	Men's World Cup	Sydney	12
Field hockey	1990	2 – 13 May	Women's World Cup	Sydney	12
Field hockey	2002	24 November – 8 December	Women's World Cup	Perth, Western Australia	16
Karate	1986	21–25 November	World Championships	Sydney
Lacrosse	1974		World Men's Championships	Melbourne	4
Lacrosse	1989		Women's World Cup	Perth, Western Australia
Lacrosse	1990		World Men's Championships	Perth, Western Australia	5
Lacrosse	2002	7–15 July	World Men's Championships	Perth, Western Australia	16
Lifesaving	1956		World Championships	Torquay, Victoria
Lifesaving	1956		World Championships	Torquay, Victoria
Lifesaving	1988	April	World Championships	Gold Coast, Queensland
Lifesaving	2000	March	World Championships	Sydney
Lifesaving	2006	10–26 February	World Championships	Geelong, Victoria and Lorne, Victoria		32	3,497	^[38]
Lifesaving	2012	7–18 November	World Championships	Adelaide, South Australia	40	4,398	^[39]
Lifesaving	2016	26 October – 6 November	World Championships	Sydney
Modern pentathlon	1966		World Championships	Melbourne
Modern pentathlon	1985		World Championships (Men)	Melbourne
Netball	1967		World Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Netball	1991	July	World Championships	Sydney	20
Netball	2015	7–16 August	World Cup	Sydney
Netball	2027		World Cup	Sydney
Orienteering	1985	4–6 September	World Orienteering Championships	Bendigo, Victoria
Polo	2001		World Polo Championship	Melbourne, Victoria
Polo	2017	tba	World Polo Championship	Sydney
Roller skating	1991	16–20 October	Artistic Skating World Championship	Sydney
Roller skating	2007	28 October – 10 November	Artistic Skating World Championship	Gold Coast, Queensland
Rowing	1990	31 October – 4 November	World Rowing Championships	Lake Barrington, Tasmania
Rugby league	1957		World Cup	Sydney and Brisbane, Queensland
Rugby league	1968		World Cup	Australia and New Zealand
Rugby league	1977	May – June	World Cup	Australia and New Zealand	4		109,688
Rugby league	1985–1988		World Cup	Australia	Several countries including Australia
Rugby league	1989–1992		World Cup	Australia	Several countries including Australia
Rugby league	2017		World Cup	Australia and New Zealand
Rugby union		1987	22 May – 20 June	World Cup	Australia and New Zealand	16
Rugby union	2003	10 October – 22 November	World Cup	Australia	20	600	1,837,547
Rugby union	2021		Women's World Cup
Rugby union	2027		10 September – 23 October		2027 Rugby World Cup		Various cities
Rugby union	2029		TBA		2029 Women's Rugby World Cup		Various cities
	2019	World Rafting Championships
Sailing	1987	31 January – 4 February 1987	America's Cup	Fremantle, Western Australia
Sailing	2011	3–18 December	ISAF World Championships	Perth, Western Australia	76	789
Shooting	1991	7–13 November	World Shotgun Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Short track speed skating	1991		World Championships	Sydney
Softball	1965	February	First Women's World Championship	Melbourne
Squash	1977	11–21 October	Men's World Open Championship	Adelaide, South Australia
Squash	1983	4–10 October	Women's World Open Championship	Perth, Western Australia
Squash	1983	October	Men's World Open Championship	Adelaide, South Australia
Squash	1990	7–14 March	Women's World Open Championship	Sydney
Squash	1991	30 July – 4 August	Men's World Open Championship	Adelaide, South Australia
Squash	1997	13–19 October	Women's World Open Championship	Sydney
Squash	2001	11–19 October	Women's World Open Championship	Melbourne
Swimming	1988		FINA World Masters Championships	Brisbane, Queensland
Swimming	2008	18–25 April	FINA World Masters Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Swimming	2022	13-18 December	2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)	Melbourne, Victoria
Triathlon	1991	12–13 October	ITU World Championships	Gold Coast, Queensland
Triathlon	1997	16 November	ITU World Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Triathlon	2000	30 April	ITU World Championships	Perth, Western Australia
Triathlon	2009	9–13 September	ITU World Championship Series Grand Final	Gold Coast, Queensland
Triathlon	2018		ITU World Championship Series Grand Final	Gold Coast, Queensland			^[40]
Volleyball	1975	12–20 August	Asian Men's Volleyball Championship	Melbourne	7
Volleyball	1991	11–16 August	Asian Men's Volleyball Championship	Perth, Western Australia	15
Water skiing	1965		World Championships	Gold Coast, Queensland
Water skiing	2017	September	World Championships
Weightlifting	1993	11–21 November	World Championships	Melbourne	57	289
Wheelchair rugby	2018	5-10 August	World Wheelchair Rugby Championships	Sydney
Wrestling	2012	11–21 November	Oceania Wrestling Championships	Sydney

Annual international sporting events

International events that are held in Australia annually. These events include both Australian and overseas athletes and teams.

Most national teams including Men's cricket, Southern Stars (women's cricket), Diamonds (women's netball) Socceroos (men's football), Matildas (women's football), Kookaburras (men's hockey), Hockeyroos (women's hockey), Boomers (men's basketball), Opals (women's basketball), Stingers (women's water polo), Sharks (men's water polo) and Volleyroos (men's volleyball) often play international matches in Australia during the year.

Sport	Month Held	Event	City
	26 January	Oz Day 10K Wheelchair Road Race	Sydney
Cycling	January	Tour Down Under	South Australia
Equestrian	November	Australian International Three Day Event	Adelaide, South Australia
Golf	November	Australian PGA Championship	Queensland
Golf	November	Australian Masters	Melbourne
Golf	November	Australian Open	Sydney
Golf	February	Women's Australian Open	Various cities
Golf	February	Australian Ladies Masters	Gold Coast, Queensland
Formula One	March	Australian Grand Prix	Melbourne
Motorcycle racing	February	Superbike World Championship Round	Phillip Island, Victoria
Motorcycle racing	October	Australian Grand Prix	Phillip Island, Victoria
Rugby union	Variable	Sevens World Series	Various cities
Rugby union	July – August	The Rugby Championship (formerly Tri Nations)	Various cities
Rugby union	July – August	Bledisloe Cup	Various cities
Surfing	April	Bells Beach Surf Classic	Bells Beach, Victoria
Tennis	January	Sydney International	Sydney
Tennis	January	Brisbane International	Brisbane, Queensland
Tennis	January	Hobart International	Hobart, Tasmania
Tennis	January	Australian Tennis Open	Melbourne
Tennis	January – December	Hopman Cup	Perth, Western Australia
Sailing	December	Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race	Sydney / Hobart, Tasmania

See also

• Sport in Australia
• List of multi-sport events

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jolly. Rhonda. Sports funding: federal balancing act. Parliamentary Library. 18 February 2015.
2. Web site: Major Sports Events. Dept. of Health website. 18 February 2015.
3. Web site: International cricket community arrives in Australia. Dept. of Health website. 18 February 2015.
4. News: Redrup. Yolanda. Costs of staging Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix increase again. 18 February 2015. The Age. 10 September 2014.
5. News: Morris. Madeleine. Senate to vote on possible inquiry into Australia's unsuccessful World Cup 2022 bid. ABC News. 22 December 2014 . 18 February 2015.
6. Book: Organizing Committee of the XVI Olympiad. The official report of The Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVI Olympiad Melbourne 1956. 1958. Government Printer. Melbourne.
7. Book: British Empire and Commonwealth Games report.. 1962. VIIth Commonwealth Games Publicity Bureau. Perth.
8. Book: Report of the first Commonwealth Paraplegic Games.. 1962. Paraplegic Association of Western Australia. Perth.
9. Book: The XII Commonwealth Games, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, September 30 – October 9, 1982 : the official history : a spectacular of sport.. 1983. XII Commonwealth Games Australia (1982) Foundation. Brisbane. 0959220712.
10. Australian Sports Commission . Annual Report . 1984–1985 . 7 . Australian Sports Commission Annual Report 1984-85 . 20 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120331052436/https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/291743/ASC_AR_1984-1985.pdf . 31 March 2012 .
11. Book: Inahugural Australia Games Melbourne 1985 : operations report. 1985. Australia Games Organising Committee. Melbourne.
12. Book: World Masters Games 1994 report : Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 26 September-8 October 1994. 1994. Queensland Events Corporation. Brisbane.
13. Book: World Police & Fire Games 26 February-4 March 1995, Melbourne, Australia : final report.. 1995. The Games. Melbourne.
14. Web site: Background 1997 World Transplant Games. TransWeb. 11 March 2014.
15. Book: Official report of the XXVII Olympiad. Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. Sydney.
16. Web site: The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. International Olympic Committee website. 19 February 2015.
17. Book: Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games : post Games report.. 2002. Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee. Sydney.
18. Book: Cashman. Richard. Benchmark Games : the Sydney 2000 Paralymp;ic Games. 2008. Walla Walla Press. Sydney. 9781876718053. 59.
19. Book: Final report of the 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.. 2001. 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane Ltd. Brisbane.
20. Book: Symons. The gay games : a history. 2010. Routledge. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon. 174–200.
21. Web site: Final Report – World Masters Games 2002. issuu website. 25 October 2010 . 11 March 2014.
22. Web site: Melbourne 2005 – 20th Summer Deaflympics. Deaflympics website. 11 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112163444/http://www.deaflympics.com/games.asp?2005-s. 12 January 2014. dead.
23. Book: Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation : overall summary report, 15 July 1999 to 31 August 2006.. 2006. Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Melbourne.
24. Book: Triple bottom line assessment of the XVIII Commonwealth Games final report.. 2006. Insight Economics. Melbourne. 72.
25. Web site: Aussies dominate World Police ad Fire Games. The Police Association Victoria Journal, May 2007. 11 March 2014.
26. Book: Sydney 2009 World Masters Games : final report. 2009. 2009 World Masters Games Organising Committee. Sydney.
27. News: Gold Coast hosts World Transplant Games. ABC News, 19 August 2009. 18 August 2009 . 11 March 2014.
28. Web site: Special Olympics Farewell Newcastle. Special Olympics Australia. 11 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140417064653/http://specialolympicsasiapacgames2013.com/en. 17 April 2014. dead.
29. Web site: 1 May 2018 . Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games by numbers . 14 April 2022 . The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory.
30. Web site: Thank you . 14 April 2022 . INAS Global Games 2019, Brisbane..
31. Book: The 6th World Swimming Championships report. 1991. The Organising Committee. Perth. 5.
32. News: Larkins. Damian. Gold Coast to host best players at 2020 World Bowls Championships. 12 March 2015. ABC News. 12 March 2015.
33. Web site: 2 April 2020 . ICC Women's T20 World Cup by the numbers . 14 April 2022 . ICC Cricket.
34. News: Melbourne to host 2016 World Cup of Golf and 2019 Presidents Cup. ABC News. 10 October 2015 . 13 October 2015.
35. Web site: Presidents Cup Returns To Melbourne In 2028 And 2040 . 14 April 2022 . Golf Australia.
36. Book: Australian Gymnastics Federation. Annual report 1994. 1995. The Federation. Melbourne.
37. Book: Gymnastics Australia. Annual Report 2005. 2006. Gymnastics Australia. Melbourne.
38. Book: Surf Life Saving Australia. Annual Report 2005-2006. 2006. SLSA. Sydney.
39. Book: Surf Life Saving Australia. Annual report 2012-2013. 2013. SLSA. Sydney.
40. Web site: Gold Coast wins bid to host 2018 World Triathlon Series Grand Final. Queensland Government Media Statements. 13 October 2015.