With the Olympic Games rapidly approaching, cities planning to host future competitions are eager to learn from the preparations of their predecessors. The 2024 Summer Olympics are set to take place in Paris, and significant insights are being drawn from the logistical success of the event as cities around the world gear up for their own Olympic hosting duties, including Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
Andrew Liveris, the CEO of Brisbane 2032, recently returned from Paris with newfound inspiration after watching the success of the Stade de France, which hosted large crowds and multiple events during the Tokyo Olympics. He emphasized the importance of creating venues capable of holding significant numbers of spectators and generating enough revenue to support the scale of such events. He pointed out, "We need to know the cost aspect of what would be an athletics stadium... There’s also the revenue side of the budget."
Brisbane is considering various options for its Olympic venues, from refurbishing the aging Gabba stadium to potentially building new ones. The Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) has been proposed as the athletics venue, but it would only seat around 48,500 even after upgrades, which is considerably lower than the Stade de France’s capacity of 80,000.
Liveris stated, "Until we see numbers on QSAC, there is no position Brisbane 2032 has taken" on its support for the venue. The upcoming state election on October 26 may also alter the dynamics of these discussions. With the potential for new leadership, pledges made pre-election may become irrelevant, impacting funding and investment strategies.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific, Los Angeles is also reflecting on the outcomes of the Paris Games as it prepares to host the Olympic Games for the third time. Mayor Karen Bass outlined the plans necessary to realize the vision for LA 2028, which includes focused efforts on enhancing public transportation and reducing traffic by encouraging car-free travel to the venues. This was stated at CNBC’s Game Plan event, and she remarked, "I think there is a way we can organize the region so traffic will be less and manageable."
The LA Olympic organizing committee is aiming to make use of existing infrastructure rather than build new venues, marking the first time this approach has been taken. Despite the challenge of showcasing the city's landmarks as Paris has done, LA has expressed ambitions to highlight its cultural role during the games.
A notable aspect of the Paris preparations included the integrative use of its well-known sites for Olympic events, and LA organizers are contemplating similar strategies. One possible consideration, for example, is how to use the Hollywood Sign as part of the games’ atmosphere and to engage the audience more interactively.
At the same time, the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics are building on the successes of previous games to drive social change and cultural engagement, which are seen as pillars for improving community impact. The Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee emphasized uses for sports, culture, and education to encourage local youth participation and engagement throughout the event.
With the goal of enhancing youth engagement, the organization has launched several initiatives, such as the "Let’s Play Winter Festival," which attracted over 230,000 attendees. They are also working to boost local participation by training young people to volunteer throughout the games.
Participation from local youth is deemed necessary for creating excitement and motivation for future sporting events. The programme not only highlights their fight against local socioeconomic issues but also paves the way for broader international visibility.
Meanwhile, Gonzaga University's sports management program provided students with the unique opportunity to study abroad during the Paris Olympics. Located close to Marseille, where sailing and soccer events are set to occur, these students witnessed the games firsthand. Their trip encompassed three hours of classroom instructions alongside the experience of live Olympic events such as the Tour de France and Formula 1 races.
Ryan Turcott, the program’s director, remarked, "This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience [the Olympics] and get our students to experience it; getting students out of their comfort zone is something uniting people and building friendships." Collectively, these developments not only prepare individuals for future careers but open doors for fresh perspectives on international sporting events.
Through such studies, students have been able to address key issues related to sustainability—an increasingly important topic for organizing bodies driven to improve their efficiency and service quality. Reflecting on national strategies previously implemented, they cited the past struggles faced by cities such as Rio de Janeiro, which still wrestles with its debts from the 2016 Olympics.
Turcott believes Paris offers valuable lessons on how to host events more sustainably, saying, "The Games were focused on green sustainability and improving pedestrian life for walkers and bikers." This forward-thinking approach is something Los Angeles is attempting to emulate as it prepares to host the games.
With the next few Olympic Games spanning diverse locations and cultural settings, all eyes will be on their respective leaders, athletes, and the wider communities to see how they tackle the challenges and opportunities these monumental events present. The transition from Paris to Los Angeles and Brisbane encourages cities to learn from one another, growing and diversifying the Olympic experience as it travels across the globe.
All of these efforts signify not just preparations for upcoming sporting spectacles, but also the intertwining of culture, sustainability, and community spirit as pivotal elements to the fabric of modern Olympic history. Each city's commitment to improving infrastructure, bolstering traditions, and prioritizing youth engagement will contribute to ensuring the legacies of these Games continue long after the final medals have been awarded.
The world watches closely as cities navigate the complex web of hosting international sporting events, and with increasing pressure on sustainable practices, progress will undoubtedly become the most desired outcome of the Olympic Movement.
