Planning beyond 2032: crafting Brisbane’s enduring Olympic legacy

The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games represent not only a pivotal moment to shape the future of Brisbane; they represent an unprecedented opportunity to rethink how Australian cities plan and build beyond short-term needs to achieve equitable urban futures. This viewpoint advocates that Brisbane can be at the forefront of this transformational change by pursuing resilient and climate-ready infrastructure, inclusive and connected communities, revitalised regional economies, sustainable mobility, innovative governance, and long-term urban stewardship. Drawing on lessons from previous Olympic and major mega-event host cities, the paper adopts a comparative planning perspective and advances a six-pillar legacy framework encompassing infrastructure, society, environment, economy, governance, and culture. The analysis highlights the importance of climate-ready infrastructure, inclusive and connected communities, sustainable mobility, innovative governance, and long-term urban stewardship. The viewpoint contributes a planning-led framework to guide Brisbane 2032 toward equitable, resilient, and sustainable urban futures, offering transferable insights for future Olympic legacy planning in Australia and internationally. For practitioners, the paper emphasises: (a) Prioritising legacy-first planning to align investments with long-term urban needs; (b) Embedding co-design and inclusive governance, particularly with local communities and Traditional Owners; (c) Integrating climate-responsive and nature-based solutions from the outset; (d) Aligning Games-related planning with statutory frameworks and regional strategies to enhance coordination and long-term public value.