Qld’s Olympic legacy must be more than a torn-down athletics venue

Our reporters in Queensland and France taste test food outlets near Brisbane’s no-frills Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre and Olympic’s venue Stade de France. WATCH THE VIDEO

Standing on the Trocadéro gazing over the great Eiffel Tower and the hive of Olympic activity below – it’s hard not to feel embarrassed about Brisbane’s plan for 2032.

The French are ambitious – an opening ceremony on the River Seine, BMX in the square where King Louis and Mary Antoinette lost their heads and public transport to every venue for the first time.

Brisbane is doing things a little differently – the smallest athletics venue in 104 years, no major new public transport link to a 2032 venue and populist decision-making to keep Premier Steven Miles in his job.

Chalk and fromage.

Of course, our river city doesn’t have the deep modern history of Paris – their Napoleon at Les Invalides is our King Wally at Suncorp.

The Eiffel Tower stadium is seen at Trocadero. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP)

Yet while the Games haven’t started, Paris has proved to the world how to seize an opportunity.

Even in this historic city, one of the world’s best, hosting the Olympic Games creates a catalyst for a new chapter of long-term benefits for residents and visitors.

Some $2.4bn has been spent cleaning the Seine and although concerns remain about whether it will be safe enough for athletes, one can’t dismiss the bold effort.

Safety is the theme of these Games. France has deployed a record number of police, military personnel and called in more from other countries.

They intimidatingly crawl across the city in pairs, fours or huge groups of eight, ready to quickly respond to the worst.

It’s not the Paris anybody would recognise.

The Trocadero, usually bustling with tourists jostling for that picture, is an empty square surrounded by steel bars.

The lockdown has left the bank of the River Seine completely deserted – affording those with an Olympic identification the once-in-a lifetime opportunity to cycle along it without dodging crowds.

Despite the persistent presence of automatic weapon-wielding police and the disruption of the Games, life in Paris is going on as normal; if not with a touch more buzz.

In its picturesque kerbside cafes and restaurants the service of smooth red wine and world-class food continues.

Police observe the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Locals are frustrated about the steel fences and checkpoints that now circle their most historic places – but most appear patient with the disruption to again put Paris on a pedestal.

This is a proudly patriotic city showing off to the world what it can do. Brisbane can do the same.

Our Olympic legacy must be more than a torn-down athletics venue.

A new stadium for the growing city is critical, but it’s just the first step.

Brisbane’s fear of spending cash and a misguided drive to keep everyone happy puts at risk the defining ingredient of the Games – one Paris has in spades – Magic.

We can do the same in Brisbane, in our unique Australian way if political leaders think beyond their job security and, as Andrew Liveris said, stop pandering to a vocal minority.

Their negativity about the event will be washed away by the magic of the Olympic rings.

Some 16,000km away from Paris’s narrow streets, Labor and the LNP are still skirmishing like Olympic fencers.

Premier Steven Miles and Opposition Leader David Crisafulli might have benefited from joining the Queensland Government delegation in France to see for themselves how a Games can transform a country.

While the delegation will learn how security, transport and catering are done at a Games, it can’t condense the Olympic magic in a memo to leaders who weren’t there.

If the aura of a Games can consume Paris, imagine what it could do for Brisbane.