2032 Queensland Olympics. The Local’s Olympics?
As the 2020 Olympics draw to a close, I have been reflecting on the recent announcement that the 2032 Olympics will be held in my home state of Queensland. This is an incredible opportunity to show the world all that South-East Queensland has to offer, whilst working with local people to create more prosperous places that leave a self-sustaining legacy beyond the 'bump-out'.
As an Event Manager, I have been fortunate to be involved in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, leaving me in awe of the positive impact international events of this scale have on cities. The investment injected into the light rail project for example has left a lasting legacy for the Gold Coast, connecting Broadbeach to Brisbane.
On the other hand, like many in the community, I am sadly familiar with images across the globe of abandoned Olympic Villages and infrastructure delivered in haste that have left areas of cities underutilised, un-activated and unloved. We have 11 years until South-East Queensland is in the spotlight; let’s take the time to ensure high quality design is undertaken through locally-led place creation processes. Let’s invest as much in our community as we will in infrastructure.
2021 Olympic viewing at South Bank
So what can we do to make the 2032 Olympics the local's Olympics? Having recently pivoted my career, stepping from event management into the placemaking space, I bring a unique perspective to the profession and see how these complementary processes can be harnessed to create better outcomes for all. Below are 4 recommendations for Queensland to consider, gleaned from experience working on events of a similar nature, complemented by knowledge of the placemaking space:
Without a doubt, large events see an increase in footfall in our main streets, however more often than not money is being predominantly spent inside stadiums and at targeted destinations. The Gold Coast games saw many locals leaving town for the duration of the games leaving businesses without their regular customer base. Further, public transport was problematic, dropping attendees directly to stadium doors reducing the opportunity for visitors to explore the local area. This left activity centres much quieter than usual. When considering the format of the games, it will be important that we are creating 'sticky places'. That is, places where people want to stop, spend time and naturally spend money. Not only does this create a desirable experience for the visitor, it positively contributes to the local economy and the thriving public life of our main streets and local centres for all businesses and traders.
Beyond the sport, it is the human stories of the Olympics that make them so special. Olympic scale events, with a global audience, have an opportunity to celebrate the rich history of the host city and celebrate its unique character as has been exemplified during the recent Tokyo Olympics. Events that most resonate with attendees are those where they feel they are having an authentic experience in a place. Embedding local stories into all aspects of the games will not only build an authentic connection and lasting local legacy, but will create a memorable experience for event attendees. Putting local people and stories at the centre of this process will ensure they feel a strong connection to the event.
Olympic sites are not created from a blank canvas. Consideration should be made into how the original sentiment and identity of a place can be retained, whilst creating infrastructure that positively benefits the city both now and into the future. The Vancouver Winter Olympics Village lost its history when the games infrastructure was cleared and transformed into a village complex. This exercise not only cleared the Olympic legacy but it resulted in a 'ghost town' that took ten years to redefine its new identity. The 2032 Olympics offers the opportunity to build layers of place narrative into the infrastructure to share the stories about our city while creating new historical memories weaving together the local tapestry of place.
Big events and placemaking must go hand-in-hand. Events of Olympic scale attract big budgets, large crowds, and one-off experiences. To the visitor they are often what a neighbourhood can become known for. However, events are over in a moment and once bump out is complete the space returns to normal. Placemaking is the key to support this short lived burst of energy by setting up a legacy that will remain with that community for a lifetime. Facilitated through smaller, regular experiences, led by locals, for locals, placemaking compliments big events by building on momentum and showcasing an authentic place identity. The delight upon discovering these experiences become the reason they return to the neighbourhood once the event is over. And continue to return time and time again.
If the COVID years of 2020 and 2021 have taught us anything, it is the importance of community and how when we all work together, we achieve great things. From Brisbane to Toowoomba, the Gold Coast and beyond, we have an opportunity to activate and mobilise local energy in the lead up to the Olympics, investing money that will not only benefit the games, but will leave a sustainable legacy beyond the 'bump-out'. Let's make the 2032 Queensland Olympics the local’s Olympics!