Opinion: The kids most at risk of being shut out of our Games glory

We should make modest investments to engage the wider community and improve public health by making it easier to participate in sport, writes Carolyn Evans.

An early concept of the Gabba for the Brisbane Olympics

We will soon have the crucial announcement of the main venues and stadiums for the 2032 Games. Making these decisions and moving swiftly to implement them will ensure that the Olympics and Paralympics are a truly great moment for Queensland.

As Australia’s most successful university for educating Olympic and Paralympic medallists, Griffith University is looking forward to watching our athletes shine, supporting our students and staff to volunteer, and showcasing our state.

The legacy of the Games, however, is not just about new stadiums or a few weeks of winning medals. The real legacy is physical infrastructure, public transport connectivity and increased sports participation in the years before and after 2032.

In addition to the Games venues, there will be a need for new and upgraded facilities around the state as Australian and international teams relocate here to train.

There are also great opportunities to make modest investments to engage the wider community and to improve public health by making it easier to participate in sports.

In Paris, for example, five years out from the Games the government set up “come and try” facilities that allowed the community to experience participating in the sports they would see at the Games. We should do the same to democratise participation.

We know that students from less advantaged neighbourhoods and schools are less likely to regularly participate in sports, with ongoing implications for their health. Some well-chosen, new or expanded facilities with improved public transport connectivity could help to spread the benefits of the Games. The State Government may also want to consider providing different forms of support for foreign teams and Australian national sports teams that wish to be based in Queensland prior to the Games.

Such facilities should be hosted by councils, schools, universities and other public institutions so that, when not in use for elite training, they can be used by the public. Such institutions may be able to co-invest and can ensure that the facilities do not turn into white elephants.

While the determination of the key venues is the next critical step in the Olympic and Paralympic journey, we should not miss the opportunity to consolidate a broader legacy.

Professor Carolyn Evans is Griffith University vice-chancellor

Originally published as Opinion: The kids most at risk of being shut out of our Games glory