‘I felt an inevitability’: Luttsy on the moment that changed his life

With a little over 3300 days till the Brisbane 2032 Games, David Lutteral reveals how you can find your own “buy-in” during the countdown.

Have you ever felt like the planets have aligned for you? Like everything you have ever done leads towards one thing. I have. I was in a Covid-induced empty stadium at the Tokyo Olympics watching women’s football, while across town, the International Olympic Committee had gathered to change my life.

Oh, I’m David Lutteral from Nova’s Ash, Luttsy, and Susie O’Neill. I’m a Brisbane boy, and part-owner of the 2032 Olympics. I’ll come back to that last part.

It was July 21, 2021, and while the Tokyo Olympics captivated millions around the world, the host city of the 2032 Games was announced as the third-biggest city of an island continent in the South Pacific.

It was an unprecedented moment for Brisbane, albeit still 11 years down a long and winding road ’til blast-off.

When I say it changed my life it was more that I felt an inevitability it was about to. At my first Olympics since the early 2000s, my metaphorical flame had been reignited for the grand theatre of live sport at the highest level. And it doesn’t get any bigger or better than the Olympic Games. Period.

It’s been almost two years since that announcement, 3332 days to go. I’m reconnecting in various ways, attending major sporting championships somewhere in the world every year, hosting the Toward the Games Brisbane 2032 podcast with Courier-Mail editor Chris Jones, visiting stadiums and arenas globally, observing the changes in how we will experience live sport in the future.

Co-host of Brisbane radio station Nova 106.9FM’s breakfast show, David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral, shares a moment that changed his life. Picture: Supplied

I’ve slid into the DMs of some of the world’s greatest athletes, who believe it or not, will write back to you, grateful that you are invested in the rollercoaster of their amazing journey. I have reconnected, invested, I’ve bought in.

And it’s all about the buy-in.

So, what’s your buy-in? Well, here’s a thought.

At the heart of the Games are the athletes. Many of those journeys are just getting under way for our next Freeman, O’Neill, McKeon, Thorpe or Pearson, and likewise for our future Paralympians. While there are a million reasons why social media sucks these days, imagine using it for good to actually connect and join their journey.

Imagine every class at every school adopting a young athlete, following their progress, cheering every victory and being a chorus of reassuring voices for every setback on the road to elite. And not just our schools, every family, every local small business, every GIANT business, connecting positively with young stars, becoming part of the Games journey.

Along with political power-players like Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, our podcast has hosted London Olympic chief Seb Coe, broadcast icon Pat Welsh, Australia’s Mr Olympics John Coates, Talent ID guru Chelsea Warr, and of course Madam Butterfly herself.

Every iconic Olympic figure had the same message; the golden moments, those “against all odds, sheer will and determination under the brightest of lights” moments, will define our Games memories.

How will you, your family, class or workmates buy into these moments? How will you connect with local heroes basking in Games glory, and feel ownership in the tears in your eyes and “I remember where I was” moments that define the Games?

Every Queenslander has the opportunity, right now, to find their Olympics “buy in” and watch it evolve over the next nine years. From personal experience, there’s no better feeling than knowing you played a positive role in that journey. It seems fanciful, but it’s real.

You see, I am only a part-owner of these Games, and according to census figures that leaves more than five million part-ownerships for Queenslanders to snap up and join the journey.

The greatest show on Earth is coming. Don’t miss your spot.

Luttsy is a breakfast presenter on Nova 106.9