The Olympic movement is not at its first paradox. There are whole handfuls of them. But the latest one may surprise. It comes from Brisbane, host city of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.
According to its mayor, Adrian Schrinner (pictured above), the main challenge facing the Queensland capital since its designation in July 2021 is… time. Well yes. Brisbane has plenty of it to prepare for the event, having been chosen by the IOC session in Tokyo no less than eleven years in advance. But this abundance of time, very advantageous on paper, turns out to be a real headache in practice.
Present this week in Lausanne for the smart cities & sport summit 2024, Adrian Schrinner delivered to the participants a fascinating and very unexpected analysis, without mincing words, of the complexity of preparing the Summer Games with more than a decade ahead of you, when the political landscape is constantly changing.
« Just over three years have passed since Brisbane was named host city for the 2032 Games, but in that time the political players have almost all changed, explained Adrian Schrinner. The federal Prime Minister is no longer the same as when Brisbane was selected. In Queensland, the Premier has changed three times. And almost half of the mayors of the cities involved in the Games are no longer the same as they were in July 2021. I myself will have to be re-elected twice to still be Mayor of Brisbane at the time of the Games. The main challenge for Brisbane 2032 is to maintain unity and direction through all these political changes."
Example: the main stadium, which is supposed to host the ceremonies and the athletics events. Less than eight years from the deadline, it is not yet known. Three projects have been mentioned, considered too expensive by some, too minimalist by another. The right option has not been found. "Politicians often make the same mistake: they rush to announce things, without taking the time to analyze them, recognizes the mayor of Brisbane. But when an announcement becomes public, we are stuck."
The solution? Adrian Schrinner has identified it: the creation of an independent authority responsible for the delivery of Olympic and Paralympic venues. Brisbane 2032 does not yet have one, but it will soon be. "Such an authority will be able to make the right decisions, beyond political considerations, based on reliable data and an economic model,” explains the Australian elected official.
In the meantime, the organizing committee continues to move forward. It is strengthening its team, with the recent or upcoming addition of several executives from Paris 2024, including the director of partnerships and licenses, François-Xavier Bonnaillie. He will occupy the position of commercial director.
Adrian Schrinner, for his part, is perfecting his apprenticeship. "I have learned a lot over the last three years, especially from Paris 2024 and even Los Angeles 2028, he admits. Leur aide et leur collaboration sont très précieuses pour Brisbane. » The Australian agrees: " Things are not always simple, especially on the political level. But I am as excited about the Olympic project as I was three years ago, when the IOC session chose Brisbane."
