Editor’s View: Olympics is so much more than just 16 days of sport

The Brisbane Olympic Games is so much more than 16 days of sport a decade from now. This event, which is something that happens only once in a city’s history, will build a better future for every Queenslander, writes Chris Jones.

This masthead’s unwavering support for the Brisbane Olympic Games since it was first proposed more than six years ago has been built on the belief in the opportunity that this is about so much more than 16 days of sport a decade from now; this is instead about making the most of something that happens only once in a city’s history to build a better future for every Queenslander.

The growth coming for our capital city and the entire southeast corner over the next decade regardless of the 2032 Games is of such scale it puts at risk the lifestyle that makes us the envy of Australia.

It is only the Olympics that will deliver the transport infrastructure required to protect our comparatively short commutes.

In tourism, too, there is an acceptance that, with notable exceptions, our “product” is not world-leading – and it needs to be, considering the importance of that industry to our state’s economy. Again, hosting the Olympics offers a unique opportunity to invest – knowing that we have a decade coming up where the eyes of the world really will be on Queensland.

Sienna Leone, 10, Isabella Westphal, 10, Amy Stanley, 10, and Georgia Westphal, 8, are part of a young contingent of netball players who hope to see their sport in the 2032 Olympic Games. Picture: Josh Woning

But making the most of hosting the Olympics is not just about building hard infrastructure. It is also about an investment – both in terms of capital and intellectual focus – on the other big opportunities.

Think sports science. Our region is already a world leader in terms of sports science research, and we boast a number of businesses recognised globally in this space. But the Olympics means that with the right focus from government working closely with industry we can turbo-charge this foundation and become the sports science hub of the Asia-Pacific by 2030.

Why shouldn’t the Australian Institute of Sport relocate its hub from Canberra’s ridiculous climate extremes to the most liveable Olympic city yet? It would then be strange indeed if the majority of our nation’s Olympic sporting organisations did not follow. All this, in turn, should attract global sports businesses to set up their regional headquarters here. It’s all upside.

But a warning: Whether the legacy of the Olympics is a second M1 to the Gold Coast or heavy rail into Maroochydore, a world-leading sports science hub, or high-end tourism product and experiences that will make us the envy of the world – none of this will happen without genuine focus from all stakeholders right now, matched with a willingness to work together.

We have four years longer than all other Olympic hosts (bar one, Los Angeles 2028) to plan for and deliver not only the Games themselves, but the far more important objective of the legacy. And that is what this week’s series is all about – ensuring that we do not miss this opportunity that will happen only once in the history of our state.

I urge all those invested in the future of our state – from the politicians, to business leaders and every single Queenslander – to fast-forward in their minds not to 2032 but to 2040, and dream about what that future could be. From there, we can start to work backwards to decide what we need to be doing right now. If we don’t, we will miss this chance that will only ever be ours once.