Opinion: How the Paris Games will impact Brisbane’s Olympic preparations

With the Paris Olympics, Brisbane 2032 organisers are entering a new phase of their preparations, writes Andrew Liveris.

Tuesday marks eight years to go until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, with August 24 marking eight years until the Paralympic Games.

As the world eagerly awaits the commencement of the Games in Paris, across Brisbane, Queensland and Australia, local communities are well under way in their planning ahead of welcoming the world to our shores for our Games in 2032.

A Games for everyone, and one that will fit the region, not the other way around. Hosted in Brisbane, with Co-Host Cities across Queensland and throughout Australia, and a global invitation to celebrate the very best of sport, together.

On the same day as we celebrate eight years to go at home, I have been invited on behalf of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee to present an update to the International Olympic Committee in Paris.

My message to IOC Members is simple. Brisbane is on track to host a great Games in 2032. Backed by strategic, measured and collaborative planning alongside our Games Delivery Partners, and with the input and ideas of thousands of community members across Australia and around the world, supporting the development of our foundational plans across brand, sustainability, our inaugural reconciliation action plan, commercial strategy, sports program, Games plan and more.

We are entering a new phase of our Games cycle. After the Paris Games, there is only one more Summer Games ahead of us – LA28. As part of the LA28 closing ceremony, Brisbane will play a role and be handed the flame as carriage ahead of 2032.

Throughout the Paris Olympics, members of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee will be part of the official IOC Observer Programs, taking part in behind-the-scenes tours and meetings with the IOC and future Organising Committees, learning and experiencing together, gathering critical knowledge and insight in order to deliver the biggest event in Queensland’s history. The same process will be repeated for the Paralympic Games, ensuring an accessible and inclusive Games no matter what, when or where you attend.

The future is bright as we celebrate eight years to go until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Before then, Brisbane 2032 will be proudly promoting our brand and our Games to the world in Paris, while joining the nation in cheering on our athletes.

Andrew Liveris is president of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee

Originally published as Opinion: How the Paris Games will impact Brisbane’s Olympic preparations