Olympics Legacy Strategy: Elevate 2042

The International Olympic Committee – IOC requires host regions to develop a Games Legacy Strategy that demonstrates a clear framework in realising the wider benefits of the Games. On behalf of the Games Delivery Partners, the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport (DTIS) commissioned Urbis consortium to develop a Legacy Strategy over a 10+10 years pre-Games and post Games horizon. 

Our goal was to develop a strategy that reflects community aspirations and the collective commitments across government, delivering greater immediate impact and long-term environmental, social, connectivity and economic benefits beyond the Games. Also, to ensure the strategy is successfully delivered over a 20-year horizon, we have been assigned to lead the legacy implementation planning, translating the strategy into action over a three-generation implementation plan. Through this work Urbis is creating impact in the lead up to the Games and delivering legacy beyond the Games. 

To reach these goals, we brought together a consortium with strong local content and a record of high-quality delivery, both in terms of stakeholder engagement, strategy development and implementation planning. 

The Legacy Strategy delivers a pathway to capitalise on long term, Games-related benefits in Brisbane, Southeast Queensland, Queensland, Australia and Oceania. The Strategy has been informed by a year of dedicated community consultation. The process inspired more than 14,000 suggestions submitted through projects like: 

• the Brisbane 2032 Hopes and Dreams survey, which invited people from across Queensland, Australia and the world to consider how the region could benefit from the Games, and 
• the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Forum, which welcomed 500 Queenslanders and Australians from diverse regions and backgrounds to contribute ideas that would benefit the community, economy and environment. 

After 18 months of collaborative effort – including strategy development, in‑depth community consultation and implementation framework by our Future State team, the Games Delivery Partners and the community – the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Strategy, ‘Elevate 2042’, was released. The strategy sets out the joint commitment of the Games Delivery Partners to deliver a new kind of Games legacy, fitting Games into the host city and region, and that their impact in the 10 years before and decade after aligns with its future direction. Central to this approach is to focus on the enduring social, cultural, economic, connectivity and environmental changes the Games enable. The strategy sets out two cross-cutting foundational elements and four “transformation themes” which can be mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

“Brisbane 2032 is set to help address the needs of the growing Queensland population, and beyond. These Olympic Games will not only be Games in Australia and for Australia – these will be Games for the whole Pacific region.” IOC President Thomas Bach.

After the release of the strategy, we led the development of the first Implementation Plan for the 5-year horizon from 2022 to 2028, focusing on early impacts and building foundations to deliver transformational legacy outcomes for the region.  

Throughout the implementation planning, the Urbis team has worked closely with the Games Venue and Delivery Authority (GVLDA, now GIICA), the nine Games Delivery Partners and subject matter experts to navigate a complex stakeholder environment and co-create solutions to overcome challenges and maximise the benefits that we can collectively deliver for our cities, communities and regions. Our team undertook a logic mapping process to design a framework for each of the strategy’s themes, with defined activities, resources, outcomes and benefits.  The framework supports prioritisation of initiatives that is aligned to Elevate 2042 and creates the greatest impact for our city, region, and communities.  

Working closely with the KPMG team to ensure alignment with broader Games Benefits Realisation framework, our coordinated approach has provided the foundations and systems required for GIICA to develop the next generations of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Implementation Plans.