Article Written By Claudia Nolan.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games represent a major opportunity for local businesses in South East Queensland. Beyond the hype, the Games present an opportunity for real, tangible outcomes; strengthening Brisbane’s global profile, improving international connectivity and increasing trade and investment.
These changes create real opportunities for local businesses to expand their reach, attract new customers and grow beyond local markets. At the BNCC we are excited about the potential for these changes, and have created this series of articles to delve deeper into what the Brisbane 2032 opportunity means for you, and your business!
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will put Brisbane on the world stage. As the city gains more global attention, history shows that the cities hosting the games become more attractive for tourism, investment and business.
Brisbane is already building international recognition, with visitor spending continuing to grow and the city being ranked among the world’s top destinations (Brisbane Economic Development Agency, 2025).
For our local business owners, this means you can benefit from being associated with a stronger global brand. When Brisbane is seen as a world-class city, it builds trust with international customers and makes it easier for businesses to promote products and services beyond Australia. It also opens up opportunities to connect with new audiences, partners and markets through digital platforms and global networks – but you have to be prepared to embrace those opportunities.
Overall, increased global visibility brings more people, more attention and more opportunities into the city, giving us the chance to strengthen our reputation, attract new customers and grow our businesses beyond local markets.
Through exposure and infrastructure, the games are positioning Brisbane to become more connected globally, which is a big win for us as local businesses. As more international visitors, investors and businesses engage with the city, demand for Australian products, services and experiences tends to grow.
This is reflected in major investment in trade infrastructure such as the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, which contributes approximately $11 billion annually to Queensland’s economy and plays a critical role in facilitating exports (Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, 2024).
For a local business, this means it’s easier to move goods overseas, access international customers and grow beyond the local market.
Instead of relying only on local demand, what if you can tap into the exposure and expand your reach (and revenue) through global trade?
Deloitte Access Economics Report (2025) predicts that the Games could generate around $70 billion in economic opportunities, partly driven by increased exports and international investment. Overall, stronger export capability gives us more opportunities to scale and grow alongside Brisbane’s expanding role in global markets.
Investment into Brisbane Airport is creating new opportunities by bringing more people and attention into Brisbane. The State of the City 2025 report highlights around $5 billion in investment is being spent on airport infrastructure, strengthening its role as a key international gateway (Brisbane Economic Development Agency, 2025).
For us, this means more international visitors, business travellers and investors coming through the city. This increased exposure helps put our businesses in front of new audiences, creating opportunities for partnerships, collaborations and new customers.
It’s not just about moving goods t’s about building connections and being part of a more globally visible economy.
The same report is predicting global exposure from the Olympics will strengthen trade and investment flows. Overall, this gives us the chance to grow our networks, increase brand awareness and tap into opportunities we would not have had before.
Overall, the Brisbane 2032 Olympics is a unique opportunity for local businesses to grow beyond local markets. With greater global exposure, improved export access and major infrastructure investment, we can reach new customers, build partnerships and expand internationally.
If we act early, we can position ourselves to benefit from Brisbane’s rise as a global city.
BNCC provides a valuable platform to connect, collaborate and form partnerships when pursing tender opportunities. If you are planning on working with others on tenders, BNCC can help to facilitate introductions and members are encouraged to reach out to the BNCC Executive Committee to build these connections.
Brisbane Economic Development Agency. (2025). State of the City 2025.
Deloitte Access Economics. (2025). Going for gold: The economic opportunity for the taking.
Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd. (2024). Port
of Brisbane’s economic contribution.
