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