The Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies was founded in the year 2000 by Honorary Associate Professor Ian Jobling to foster academic and community understanding of the Olympic Movement.
The Centre was re-launched and diversified in 2024.
The Centre is hosted by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane (Meanjin), the future host city of the 2032 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The responsibility of hosting The Games extends far beyond sport with organisers being expected to use the opportunities presented by these international megaevents to produce lasting benefits for host cities and surrounding regions. As active members of our community, our experts will contribute their knowledge in diverse areas of Olympic and Paralympic sport and health, to ensure the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games leave a positive legacy for our region, and beyond.
Our experts develop knowledge about The Games which benefits not just sportspeople but also the broader community. We host research that enhances athlete performances and experiences through sport science and technology, optimises business and management practices, critically examines ethical and sociocultural issues, and builds healthier and more sustainable communities.
We co-create this knowledge by collaborating with our affiliate university members, and industry, government, and community partners. We share this knowledge with the community by creating accessible educational resources, engaging young people in legacy-building projects, supporting athlete-scholars, working with governments and institutions on policy issues, and hosting public interest events and visiting scholars.
QCOPS is based in The University of Queensland School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences and supports collaborative research partnerships across all faculties, institutes, and centres at UQ and our affiliate university members. The Centre works closely with UQ’s Office of 2032 Games Engagement - the coordinating body for UQ’s involvement with the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.