Games ready? New report finds Queensland is "ready in parts, but not yet as a system"
Published: September 18, 2026
As Queensland prepares to welcome the world for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a new report from Urbis in partnership with the Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) finds that transport and accommodation still do not consistently connect to create a seamless, accessible journey.
The report, Games Readiness: Queensland Hotel and Transport Accessibility, examines the current state of accessible accommodation and public transport across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns through a combination of accommodation audits, transport analysis, and 79 real-world journeys undertaken by people with diverse disability.
The findings are encouraging and demonstrate that while Queensland has many of the building blocks required to deliver an inclusive Games and legacy, accessibility is not yet consistently integrated across the full journey.
"People don't experience accessibility as a hotel room, a train station or a venue in isolation. They experience it as one connected journey. The report shows that accessibility succeeds when information, transport, accommodation and public spaces work together as a system."
The report also provides practical recommendations to help shape an inclusive Brisbane 2032 Games and a lasting legacy for Queensland.
Moving from Parts to a System
The report found examples of good practice across all three locations, including accessible transport services, newer accommodation developments and destinations demonstrating a strong commitment to inclusion. However, it also identified recurring barriers that impact confidence, independence and participation.
Key findings include:
Accessible hotel rooms account for only around 1-2% of room supply in key Games destinations and are often difficult to identify and book with confidence.
Public transport connectivity is strongest to centrally located venues, while outer suburban venues currently experience weaker connections and limited accessibility information.
Accessibility data remains fragmented and inconsistent, making it difficult for visitors to plan and complete journeys with certainty.
People with disability continue to encounter barriers related to information, wayfinding, first and last-mile connections, staff capability and inclusive participation, even where physical infrastructure is present.
The report argues that truly accessible journeys depend on more than infrastructure alone. Reliable information, intuitive wayfinding, connected pathways, customer service, accessibility data, and inclusive design all play a role in supporting independence, dignity and participation.
Accessibility Benefits Everyone
A central theme of the report is that accessibility is not a niche issue.
Accessible transport and accommodation benefit people with disability, older people, families with prams, people carrying luggage, pregnant people, people recovering from injury, and anyone who values clear information, reliable services, and environments that are easy to navigate.
With more than one in five trips in Australia involving travellers with disability or long-term health conditions and those travelling with them, the report highlights accessibility as both a social and economic opportunity for Queensland.
"Backing work like Games Readiness is exactly why we're here, helping Queensland turn a once-in-a-generation moment into lasting community benefit," said Kris Krpan, Partner, Urbis.
“The value of accessible infrastructure is what it unlocks: the work people can access, the education they can get to, the healthcare people can receive, the relationships they can build, and the life they can live."
A Legacy Beyond 2032
Building on the 2024 Game Changers report, which explored how Brisbane 2032 can create an inclusive employment legacy, Games Readiness looks at the practical realities of travelling, staying and participating in Queensland today.
The report outlines six recommendations to become Games ready:
Standardising accessible accommodation information
Increasing accessible accommodation supply
Enabling end-to-end journeys
Strengthening journey information
Building frontline capability
Setting inclusive standards
Together, these actions seek to move Queensland from "readiness in parts" to a connected accessibility system that supports residents, visitors, athletes, volunteers and workers alike.
"Design it well for us and you design it well for everyone."
The report was launched in the Urbis Brisbane office last night to a crowd of over 40 distinguished guests, government representatives, industry partners, disability advocates, community leaders, transport and tourism stakeholders, and people with disability who contributed their lived experience and expertise.
Download the report: Games Readiness: Queensland Hotel and Transport Accessibility
