On the twentieth anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games there was much reflection on legacy โ both tangible and intangible.ย
The intangibles included the pride that Australia felt in delivering a well-organised and safe Games, and the happy memories we now share of golden days spent in the worldโs spotlight. The tangibles are mostly questions of urban renewal and placemaking โ the remediation of the Sydney Olympic Park site, and the flow-on benefits for adjacent suburbs.
There is still debate about how well the Gamesโ precinct transitioned from a major event space to a bustling urban community. And the role that urban design and planning had to play in that. It illustrates that the development industry has a key role to play in ensuring preparations for Brisbane 2032 create a fantastic legacy for Queensland.
In 2003, it was incorporated into the Olympic Charter in an effort to reign in ballooning costs, avoid โwhite elephantโ infrastructure, and improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the Olympics.ย
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established a โnew normโ which seeks to achieve: โcost efficiencies without compromising the Olympic experience. โฆopportunities to reduce venue sizes, rethink transport options, optimise existing infrastructure and reuse the field of play for various sports.โ
The Brisbane 2032 bid and plans are based on these principles. In addition to being โclimate positiveโ the Gamesโ venues and accommodation will be woven into the existing urban fabric of South East Queensland. ย
This gives us a head start in managing costs and avoiding post-Games challenges. And we also have the benefit of understanding what went well, and what we would change from both the Sydney Olympics and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.ย
So, how do we create an amazing legacy for Queensland from the Brisbane 2032 Olympics? I think that in identifying what we want from the Games and what we aspire to be as a region, we need to look back to Expo 88.
Its legacy has been immense. And we should aspire to creating the same level of positive change โ change felt decades on โ for Brisbane 2032.ย
The renewal of South Brisbane and creation of South Bank were important physical changes, but Expo 88 also changed how people in Brisbane lived, and the identity of the city.
A 2018 Bureau International des Expositions case study describes how despite initial scepticism, Expo 88 was a huge success that demonstrated that Brisbane could do great things on a world stage. The event was loved by the local community, and years later the experience as a host city is viewed with universal positivity.
The case studyโs authors identify five key lessons from Expo 88 for cities undertaking mega events:
These lessons point to exciting opportunities for Brisbane 2032.ย The Games can be a catalyst for creating a rich cultural, physical and social legacy for South East Queensland.
Through them, we can reimagine how we achieve our sustainability goals, house our population, progress reconciliation, bring our community together, and much more.
Your contact information:
All fields are mandatory *
RPS is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you have requested. We would also like to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you.
Your contact information:
All fields are mandatory *
RPS is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We will only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you have requested. We would also like to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you.