Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will benefit entire Pacific region

As the epicentre of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane will change in ways we can’t even begin to grasp yet. But the benefits will extend way beyond the city limits, writes the editor.

The boss of the Organising Committee for the Brisbane 2032 Games Andrew Liveris will today tell representatives from Oceania’s Olympic committees that it is his hope that a “rising tide will lift all boats” – in that the entire region will benefit from the world’s biggest event being held here.

It is a solid point, and one that is often forgotten when it comes to the debate over the benefits and legacy of hosting the Games here.

Yes, the Games are a perfect way to provide the catalyst for the delivery of necessary transport infrastructure for the southeast of our state earlier than otherwise. And yes, the fact that the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Park will essentially be the central business district means its transformation over the next nine years will be immense.

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee boss Andrew Liveris. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

In fact, our capital city will be transformed in ways we can’t even begin to fully grasp yet. The truth is, however, the benefits will extend way beyond Brisbane.

But the key to success, as Mr Liveris points out today, is planning. Crossing our fingers and hoping for the best will leave us with missed opportunities, and disappointment. He will, however, say – correctly – that if we get the planning right we will be able to “supercharge the amplifier effect of the Games” to deliver positive outcomes for the economy, society and environment.

Mr Liveris talks of the Games being a catalyst to “elevate our lifestyles and improve the health of our communities”, and of “showcasing the remarkable achievements across all aspects of life, through the prism of sport”; of massive tourism opportunities, and for the chance for other industries to benefit from the 2032 legacy in the decades after the Games.

His remarks are made in relation to the benefits for the Pacific region, but they apply equally for the regions of Queensland that are outside the southeast corner.

While the Games themselves will be contested in the southeast – with the exception of some football preliminaries in Townsville and Cairns – the entire state can emerge a big winner from this exercise. But again, the key will be planning.

If you run a business, you must be preparing to take advantage of the procurement opportunities – and consider carefully what the organisers will be looking for from you in the areas of workforce diversity, sustainability credentials and the transparency of your supply chain. You need to start planning for a successful bid now.

Local councils should also start agitating for help funding improved sporting facilities. The Australian Olympic Committee sees local sports infrastructure as a key benefit of the Games.

Councils should be planning now for how they could host training camps for various national teams in the lead up to the Games, for instance.

The tourism industry, too, should be taking advantage of the coming global spotlight to speak to their lenders and invest now in improved facilities and experiences. The Queensland tourism industry enjoyed a positive halo effect from the spotlight on Sydney in 2000. The benefit will be even greater this time around, and it will start in earnest after the closing ceremony in Los Angeles on July 30 2028 – literally just five years from now.

The 2032 Games might be called Brisbane’s. But the truth is they will belong to all of us who call this state home. And if we plan it right, the legacy for all will be life-changing.