Five-time World Motorcycling Champion Mick Doohan has thrown his support behind Motorsport to be included in the 2032 Olympics during a function at Brisbane’s Parliament House on Monday.
Speaking as Australian Motorsport Council Chairman at the Parliamentary Friends of Motorsport function, Doohan supported the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) push to include motorsport into the world’s most recognisable sporting event.
Motorsport, in the form of the karting discipline, was one of nine sports shortlisted for the 2028 Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles, but missed out on selection alongside breaking, karate and kickboxing. The FIA has since stated that it will make another bid to place karting on the Olympics program.
“To have motorsport, in particular karting, involved in the Olympics would be massive for the sport around the world,” said Doohan.
“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.”
E-karting has already featured at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires as a demonstration event.
Motor racing events were held around the 1900 Olympics in Paris, but nobody is sure what events were officially part of the program or not.
Doohan went on to implore governments at all levels to provide support for permanent motorsport facilities at all levels rather than just the temporary street circuits.
“A lot of the places I raced on as kid have the same infrastructure in place today. 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,” said Doohan.
“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.”
