Olympics-One-time backwater Brisbane turns Olympic Cinderella

FILE PHOTO: A view of the city skyline of Brisbane, the city expected to be announced as host for the 2032 Olympic Games, in Brisbane, Australia, July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Lacking Sydney's seaside splendour and Melbourne's cultural heft, Brisbane has learned to play smart to carve out an identity as Australia's third city while biding its time to win a seat at the Olympic table.

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed Brisbane as host of the 2032 Olympics, 35 years after snubbing the steamy river city for the 1992 Games.