David Rowe writes in The Conversation (23.7.21) about Brisbane’s winning bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games. The author reminds that, while every host nation claims its Games will be different and better, it will take decades to get a full accounting of the legacy for Brisbane and Southeast Queensland.
‘There’ll be two types of Australian high jump in Tokyo this month. The first, most likely scripted, was Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s front row leap after Brisbane was awarded the right to host the 2032 Olympics. The second will be in response to Australia winning any medals.
‘Palaszczuk’s leap is also a plunge into an uncertain future. For the next 11 years there will be much debate about whether it’s worth it.
‘… The new facilities that are built are intended to be productive and viable, rather than white elephants. Despite its name this will be a regional rather than city-based event, claiming to spread its legacy benefits along Olympic-enhanced transport corridors.
‘History suggests much of this will be wishful thinking. A major part of the aim is to recast Brisbane as an international city able to hold its own alongside Australia’s current Olympic cities, Melbourne and Sydney.
‘Brisbane 2032 will show a lot of people a good time. But questions of its legacy, good and bad, will take decades to resolve.’
- The Brisbane Olympics are a leap into an unknowable future »
- Will hosting the Olympic Games in 2032 really be worth it for Brisbane? »
- It’s ours! Get ready, Brisbane, the world will be watching you for the next 11 years »
- Sheer optimism wins as Brisbane ‘served’ right to host 2032 Olympics »
- We need this ray of hope on our distant horizon – today is not a day for naysayers »
- Why hosting the Olympics is about much more than just keeping the lights on »
- The Brisbane Olympic Games deserve a gold medal for hyperbole when it comes to economic benefits »
- Olympics secrecy poses ‘corruption risk’ to Queensland, says watchdog »
- Cracks beginning to show as Gold Coast demands a seat at the Olympics table »
- Gold medal veil: Brisbane Olympics laws passed despite secrecy concerns »
- Gabba Olympic funding up in air, despite purported pact with former PM »
- ‘We’re still stabbing in the dark’: Minister’s admission on Gabba plans »
- Queensland confident Canberra will pay half of growing Gabba works bill »
- Massive Gabba rebuild bill could now fall squarely on Qld taxpayers »
- State, federal govts strike $7b deal for 2032 Brisbane Olympics »
- It’s little wonder the feds ran from a Gabba commitment »
- Queensland backtracks on Brisbane Olympic authority
- Are we being strung along? Qld in the dark over billions we’ll spend before 2032
- Brisbane Olympics: Greens, One Nation and Katter parties unite in push to cap spending on 2032 Games
- Brisbane 20-thirty-who? Olympic bosses’ challenge to tell world who we are
- ‘Full steam ahead’ and no way out: how much can we trust cost estimates for the Brisbane Olympics?
- Brisbane Olympics: faster, higher, stronger and expensive – the true cost of the Games
- The $2.7 billion Gabba, and what bang other stadiums got for their buck
- Brisbane’s Gabba to be demolished after 2025 Ashes and rebuilt as part of ‘East Bank’ precinct
- Brisbane mayor resigns from 2032 Olympics forum and calls it a ‘dysfunctional farce’
In a year of sporting mega-events, the Brisbane Olympics can learn a lot from the ones that fail their host cities
Anthony Halog writes in The Conversation (16.8.22) about planning pitfalls for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics, with the author suggesting there are signs that organisers have learned from the mistakes of other Games host cities.
‘In a year of major sporting events – the Commonwealth Games, the FIFA World Cup, cricket’s T20 World Cup, the Winter Olympics – conversations on greening such events are more essential than ever. While the Brisbane Olympics are a decade away, lessons from events like these need to be applied from the start to maximise the benefits of the city’s transformation for the 2032 Games. Good planning can produce a positive environmental legacy for years to come.
‘In recent years, the focus on the impacts of such events on host cities, specifically the environmental impacts, has sharpened. As the costs of environmental degradation and climate change mount, Olympic plans must adapt to the host city’s sustainable development or redevelopment, as opposed to the city being developed around the Olympics.
‘Of course, these considerations are not new. Sustainability has been established as the third pillar of the Olympics since the 1990s.
‘… Brisbane is treating the Olympic Games as a platform for urban development that can transform how we travel, integrate multiple urban centres across South-East Queensland, and result in lasting changes to policies and behaviours. These goals stem from the importance of leaving a climate-positive legacy that will last.’
- In a year of sporting mega-events, the Brisbane Olympics can learn a lot from the ones that fail their host cities »
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- On your marks: Government told it should aim to complete Olympics venues a year early »
- Not so fast: Economic report questions value of Brisbane Olympics »
- As Brisbane looks ahead to the Olympics, the survival of a heritage-listed school hangs in the balance »
- Sunshine Coast quick off mark to lock in Olympics transport legacy »
- Planning an Olympics? Remember the hole that took over a decade to dig »
- On your marks: the $50b infrastructure blueprint that will carry us to the Olympics »
- How the Brisbane Olympics can help shake the Melbourne-Sydney duopoly »
- ‘We’re still stabbing in the dark’: Minister’s admission on Gabba plans »
- Gabba Olympic funding up in air, despite purported pact with former PM »
- New Gabba train station centrepiece of $1.8bn infrastructure spend in south-east Queensland »
- Brisbane Olympics should prioritise public transport, says London Olympics planner »
- Queensland’s high-tech plan to make the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games smarter and greener »
- 3500 days until Brisbane Olympics, but we don’t have time for spinning our wheels »
- Gold medal funding deal: Starting gun fires on $7b Olympic building bonanza »
- Plan to redevelop Gabba for Brisbane Olympics to cost $2.7b and a primary school, sparking outcry »
- We’re doing ourselves a favour tearing down the Molly Meldrum of sport stadiums
- LA Olympic organiser’s tips for Brisbane 2032
- Brisbane 2032 asked to deliver on regional Olympic Games promise
- Feds keen to ensure ‘green and gold runway’ doesn’t end in Brisbane
- Nine years before we host the Olympics, is there any rush to establish our ‘brand narrative’
- Olympics boss says ‘building Brand Brisbane’ first item on agenda
- What London’s 2012 Games can show Brisbane’s 2032 Games