Brisbane 2032 Games must deliver legacy for healthier society, AOC boss says

Australian Olympic Committee boss Matt Carroll has urged Brisbane 2032 Games organisers to “not miss our chance”, revealing what the Sydney Games could have done better.

Brisbane’s 2032 Games must be used as a catalyst to create a healthier society and instil a love of sport in the younger generation, with Australian Olympic Committee boss Matt Carroll urging “let’s not miss our chance”.

With the state government currently finalising the Brisbane 2032 Games legacy plan, Mr Carroll said it was crucial to remember the vital role sport plays in the Games, while revealing what Sydney could have done better – and the lessons Brisbane should learn.

“A healthy nation is a happy nation, and a caring and productive nation, and how can you drive health in the community? Through sport,” Mr Carroll told The Courier-Mail.

“We have to remember sport is an economic contributor – it’s not just a pastime, or an entertainment.

“And yes, while a well-prepared Olympic and Paralympic home teams are essential for a successful games, a medal count in itself is not legacy.”

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

But Mr Carroll said by leveraging the benefits of sport, there was an unrivalled chance in hosting the 2032 Games to deliver long-lasting health outcomes for the community – and get more young people physically active.

“There is a partnership between sport, health and education, and they can be co-ordinated at a local, to state, to national level,” he said.

“And that’s where sport can play not just a positive role, but a really big role in implementing strategies and plans for a healthier community.

“What we have here is an opportunity to partner with sport, education and health to drive things like obesity down – which is then a saving to the health system.

“So rather than having to spend more money on health, governments can spend on other things, and you get happier and more productive people.”

Mr Carroll said it was key to “start getting kids into sport now”.

“It’s not just waiting for the inspiration of the games in 2032,” he said.

And while acknowledging the legacies the Sydney 2000 Games delivered, Mr Carroll also said there were lessons Brisbane could learn from the landmark 2000 event.

“There’s a piece I still think we probably didn’t get quite right, and that was how to drive a real change in using the power of sport for the benefit of the community – delivering the health, wellbeing and productivity outcomes,” he said.

“I think we could have done more.

“So here we go again in 2032 – let’s not miss our chance.”