Motorcycle legend Mick Doohan used a function at Parliament House in Brisbane to call on motorsport at the 2032 Olympics.
Doohan got behind an ongoing lobbying effort by the FIA to have motorsport as part of the summer Games at a Parliamentary Friends of Motorsport function in the Queensland capital.
Karting was short-listed for the 2028 Las Angeles Games but missed out to the likes of baseball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash and softball.
Doohan, the Australian Motorsport Council Chairman, said it was important for the sport to continue a long-standing push for Olympic inclusion.
“To have motorsport, in particular karting, involved in the Olympics would be massive for the sport around the world,” he said.
“It would be remiss of us not to continue the push that has been led by the FIA, and in particular their long-time President Jean Todt, to have such a truly global sport like motorsport incorporated into the Olympics – and what better place for it to happen than right here in Queensland.
“Today’s motor racing stars are all elite athletes in every sense and I hope that we can showcase this to the world on the Olympic stage – not every elite athlete is a swimmer, runner or football player.”
Doohan added that government support for motorsport should come in the form of investment in permanent facilities, rather than street circuits – comments made on the eve of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, which receives significant backing from the Queensland state government.
“A lot of the places I raced on as kid have the same infrastructure in place today,” he said.
“Street circuits are great for tourism and economic benefits for specific weekends, but there’s a lot of economic benefit that comes from the motorsport industry all year round – especially here in Queensland. This benefit will only be enhanced by better motorsport facilities.
“Motorsport, on either two or four wheels, teaches kids and adults a lot more than just about how to drive or ride fast. The most dangerous place they drive is on the road so if we can make them more aware of their surroundings and improve their car or bike control on a race circuit it will make for safer roads.”
