 Australia is one of five nations to have participated in every Summer Olympics of the modern era , and has hosted the Games twice : 1956 in Melbourne and 2000 in Sydney . Australia has also participated in every Commonwealth Games , hosting the event in 1938 , 1962 , 1982 , 2006 and will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games . Australia made its inaugural appearance at the Pacific Games in 2015 . As well as being a regular FIFA World Cup participant , Australia has won the OFC Nations Cup four times and the AFC Asian Cup once – the only country to have won championships in two different FIFA confederations . The country regularly competes among the world elite basketball teams as it is among the global top three teams in terms of qualifications to the Basketball Tournament at the Summer Olympics . Other major international events held in Australia include the Australian Open tennis grand slam tournament , international cricket matches , and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix . The highest @-@ rating television programs include sports telecasts such as the Summer Olympics , FIFA World Cup , The Ashes , Rugby League State of Origin , and the grand finals of the National Rugby League and Australian Football League . Skiing in Australia began in the 1860s and snow sports take place in the Australian Alps and parts of Tasmania . 
