IAQ Study Tour 2025: Reflections and insights for Brisbane 2032

20 November 2025

IAQ’s first Major Events Legacy Study Tour delivered a week of powerful insights for Queensland as we prepare Brisbane 2032. Our delegation travelled through Paris and London to see how two global cities planned, built and delivered Games that reshaped their communities. Read on to learn more.

Following a pre-tour workshop with the University of Queensland designed to help delegates refine their objectives and approach, the IAQ delegation undertook an intensive program connected by walking tours and public transport connections. Exclusive site tours and partner presentations gave a depth of insight that can only come from being on the ground and hearing from those who shaped these cities before, during and after their Games.

IAQ thanks our partner organisations and their teams that assisted and hosted our delegation during our tour. The local expertise and guidance we were generously provided each day went well beyond our expectations.

Paris: A city-first approach

Paris showed what can be achieved when a city treats the Games as a catalyst rather than the main event. Only one major new venue was built for Paris 2024. The focus was on reusing existing spaces and delivering long-term city upgrades that would stand well beyond the closing ceremony.

Key moments for the delegation included:

A central Paris walking tour that highlighted how sport was woven into existing precincts
Visits to the 1924–2024 Hockey Stadium and the new Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis
Insights into the Grand Paris transport program, including 68 new stations for the Games and beyond
Discussions with local experts about how Paris the city was the focus, not the Games.

What stood out was the Paris mindset. The Games were not the centrepiece. The city was. The approach was practical, community-focused and built for the future.

London: Legacy embedded from Day One

London’s story was different but equally powerful. Delegates saw how a clearly defined legacy plan delivered a complete transformation of one of the UK’s most disadvantaged boroughs.

Thirteen years after the London 2012 Games, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park precinct is thriving. New jobs, new industries, new homes and ongoing investment have become the new normal.

Key learnings from London included:

A consistent vision for what the city wanted the Games to unlock
The role of strong governance in security, transport and redevelopment
How clear planning continues to attract major tenants, such as the BBC and technology companies
First-hand insights into stadium redevelopment and long-term operator planning

Stadium spotlight

Across Paris and London, delegates visited a range of major venues, including Stade de France, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham’s London Stadium, and Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The message was consistent. To create lasting value, stadiums must be:

Flexible and built to host multiple modes or sports
Tech-enabled with modern systems fully integrated from day one
Designed for life after the Games, not simply for two weeks of competition

The Everton stadium showcased how Modern Methods of Construction can achieve this at scale. The majority of the building and fit out was delivered off site, reducing waste and saving both time and cost.

The biggest takeaway: “All the little things matter”

Across both cities, and all sites visited as part of this study tour, the path to a successful Games was clear. Having an overall vision and plan is needed that allows thousands of decisions to be made for the benefit of Brisbane, and Queensland leading up to, during and beyond our Games.

This was reinforced during IAQ’s post-tour session, where delegates reflected on what they had seen and what it means for Queensland.

Post-tour briefing: Building Queensland’s platform

Our tour delegation was welcomed back to the University of Queensland last week and worked together to identify key opportunities for value creation as planning for Brisbane 2032 continues. The session’s outcomes included:

Procurement reform: There are opportunities to improve pace, contract flexibility and project sequencing. Delegates discussed sequencing of projects and approaches to reduce risk and build capability.
Governance and leadership: Paris and London both had clear, central figures and agencies responsible for legacy. Queensland would benefit greatly from equivalent leadership with visibility across the entire program, a “Mr or Ms Olympics”.
Community engagement: Both Paris and London invested in genuine consultation. They asked residents what they wanted from the Games and responded with city-shaping legacies. Queensland can strengthen this with our current timelines.
Modern Methods of Construction: Growing our MMC capacity and capability is a major opportunity. It improves safety, reduces waste and can accelerate delivery. It could form a central part of Brisbane’s long-term legacy.
A plan for the whole of Brisbane: The Games must sit within a broader Brisbane, and Queensland, plan. A plan that thinks beyond venues and two weeks of competition. A plan that lifts communities, improves transport and builds opportunity.

The IAQ Major Events Legacy Study Tour delivered more than site visits. It gave our delegation clarity, inspiration and a practical sense of what it takes to deliver a Games that leaves a lasting legacy.

Next Steps

IAQ is excited to take a deep dive into these insights and outcomes with the relevant Taskforces and Expert Advisory Groups for members to progress opportunities within their frameworks.

With the Queensland Productivity Commission due to release its final report soon and Queensland Government expected response to come in early 2026, IAQ will seek opportunities on collaboration for its members to bring together productivity, procurement and infrastructure pipeline updates. We look forward to continuing this work with our members, partners and government as Queensland builds toward 2032 and beyond.

Acknowledging Our Partners and Hosts

This Major Events Legacy Study Tour was an unparalleled success thanks to the generous support, insights, and time shared by our partners, hosts, and special guests in Paris and London. We extend our sincere gratitude to: