Sport is an important part of the culture of the Australian state ofQueensland. Many different sports are played in Queensland, whether recreationally, competitively, or professionally.
Australian Football has a long history inQueensland. The first foray made by the then-VFL came in the form of theBrisbane Bears, who began playing Premiership matches in 1987. Despite some rocky times in the northern state, the game now appears to be entrenched within Queensland, thanks to a hat-trick ofAFLPremiership wins from 2001 to 2003. The introduction of theGold Coast Suns in 2011 highlights the game's growth in Queensland.
Basketball is a popular sport in Queensland, and offers an alternative to outdoor sport during rainy weather. Since theNational Basketball League's inception in 1979, at least one team has been based in Queensland. Queensland has two currentNBL teams:
Cricket is popular in Queensland. Many domestic and international matches are held atthe Gabba. TheQueensland Bulls and theBrisbane Heat are based inBrisbane and representQueensland in Australia's domesticcricket tournaments:
Rugby league is the most spectated sport inQueensland.[1]Queensland Rugby League has been in operation since 1908, creating strong roots in both city and regional communities. There are currently four teams in theNational Rugby League competition, two of which have been part of the NRL since its inauguration in 1998:
The other major rugby league team is theQueensland Maroons who playNew South Wales Blues in the fiercely contested three gameState of Origin competition. The Maroons have recently won their third straight Origin series, as well as their eleventh from the past twelve.
The other major state-based competition is theQueensland Cup.
Rugby Union is a major sport in Queensland with more than 55,000 registered players in 210 clubs and 235 schools across the state.[2] The first games were played in 1876, and Queensland has been represented by theQueensland Reds since 1882, who currently compete in theSuper Rugby competition.
In 2011, the Reds won the Super Rugby Championship in front of more than 52,000 fans.[3] They repeated this feat in the2021 Super Rugby AU Final.[citation needed]
The annual estimate for Adults 15+ participating in soccer was 1,086,094 (or 5.4% of the Adult 15+ population)[4] and in children, 30% play the sport, second only to swimming[5] in terms of participation.
Over 300,000 people are registered to play soccer with 308 clubs organised byFootball Queensland. In 2023, the participation breakdown was 69.8% male and 30.2% female meaning more than 100,00 females play the sport[6]
Soccer was first organised in the State in 1867 and today is represented professionally byBrisbane Roar in the men and women'sA League, and semi-professionally there are 12 clubs in theQueensland National Premier League, and a further 50 or so clubs in the Queensland Premier League (QPL).
All 308 clubs are entitled to enter Australia's largest knock out competition, TheAustralia Cup, organised byFootball Australia.
The State regularly hostsThe Matildas andSocceroos.
Swimming is also a popular sport in Queensland, with a majority of Australian team members and international medalists hailing from the state. At the2008 Summer Olympics, Queensland swimmers won all six of Australia's gold medals, all swimmers on Australia's three female (finals) relays teams were from Queensland, two of which won gold.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2005 and 2007 World Long Course Swimming Championships, Australia won both the 4 × 100 m freestyle and medley relays. In five of these teams, three out of the four swimmers were from Queensland, and in the medley relay in 2007, all were from Queensland.
Triathlon has been a popular sport in Queensland since the early 1980s with the state three times hosting the ITU World Championships[7] in addition to: theNoosa Triathlon - the world's largest triathlon (also the country's longest-lasting event at the same venue),Mooloolaba Triathlon,Hervey Bay Triathlon and theGold Coast Triathlon to name but a few.
Each year the Queensland Sport Awards are held. The major award is the Sport Star of the Year:[8]
| Club | Sport | League | Venue | Established | Premierships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns Taipans | Basketball | National Basketball League | Cairns Convention Centre | 1999 | Nil |
| Dick Johnson Racing | Motorsport | Supercars Championship | Queensland Raceway | 1980 | 10 |
| Gold Coast Hawks | Bowls | Australian Premier League | Club Helensvale | 2014 | Nil |
| Gold Coast Suns | Australian rules football | Australian Football League | Carrara Stadium | 2011 | Nil |
| Gold Coast Titans | Rugby league | National Rugby League | Robina Stadium | 2007 | Nil |
| Moreton Bay Pirates | Bowls | Australian Premier League | Club Pine Rivers | 2018 | 2018 |
| North Queensland Cowboys | Rugby league | National Rugby League | North Queensland Stadium | 1995 | 1 |
| PremiAir Racing | Motorsport | Supercars Championship | Queensland Raceway | 2022 | Nil |
| Sunshine Coast Lightning | Netball | Suncorp Super Netball | USC Stadium | 2016 | 2 |
| Townsville Fire | Basketball | Women's National Basketball League | Townsville Entertainment Centre | 2001 | 2 |
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