From Competition to Collaboration: Sustainable Visions and Legacies of Olympic Host Cities

At a recent event in Paris, experts and representatives from Paris, Los Angeles, and Brisbane discussed how sustainability is shaping future Olympic Games. After the opening remarks, key figures in sustainable development for Olympic host cities shared their insights.

Dr. Tania Braga from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) talked about the changing legacy of the Games. Erin Bromaghim, Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, outlined LA's sustainability plans for the 2028 Games, while Krista Adams, Deputy Mayor of Brisbane, discussed innovative strategies for the 2032 Games. Yann Krysinski from the Société de livraison des ouvrages olympiques (SOLIDEO) shared his experience from the Paris Olympics, and advised his colleagues to enjoy the process. “It is a blessing to work on such a big project,” he said. “It happens in France once per century, the last games were in 1924. Savor each day. I'm already nostalgic.”

The conference, held at Reid Hall in Paris, was co-organized by City Diplomacy Lab, the Columbia Global Paris Center, the U.S. Embassy in Paris, and the United Nations Environment Program.

Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, founding director of City Diplomacy Lab, opened the discussion by noting a shift from competitive bidding to collaborative dialogues focused on sustainability. “The Olympic Games today draw a geography of international cooperation that is not only inspiring, but in many ways, alternative to the many international relations crises that make the headlines.” The IOC’s selection process has indeed transitioned from competitive bidding to a dialogue-based model, facilitating more flexible and mutually beneficial agreements. Among the first examples was a dual nomination for Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 as host cities.

The conference highlighted how Paris, Los Angeles, and Brisbane are using the Olympics to drive sustainable urban development, focusing on environmental impact, infrastructure, and long-term legacies. David McCawley of the U.S. Embassy in Paris praised the Olympics as a catalyst for urban development and global unity, while Gulnara Roll from UNEP commended Paris for its environmental initiatives, such as hosting a "plastic-free" Olympics and using renewable energy.

Collaboration and flexibility were key themes throughout the event. Tania Braga pointed out that the success of the Games depends on collaboration among various stakeholders. "We have been blown away by our collaboration with Paris, Brisbane, and Milan,” agreed Erin Bromaghim. “The solidarity has been both kind of almost emotional, and incredibly practically important for me and for the team working in Los Angeles.”

Braga also noted that cities can now adapt venue requirements to better fit local needs. “Our main role is to build this flexibility in the system,” she said. For instance, “In the past there were things such as minimum capacity for an event in the Olympic games. It doesn't exist anymore.” She added, “If before the cities had to change to fit to the games, now it is the games that adapt to fit to the needs of the city.”

Yann Krysinski shared practical advice for urban development, hard-won wisdom from his experience as head of SOLIDEO, the agency tasked with building infrastructure for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He suggested the following to colleagues from LA and Brisbane:

1. Putting sustainable urban development goals in writing from the outset.
2. Designing with both the games phase and the legacy phase in mind. "Each set of the drawings that we produced had a ‘game phase’ and a ‘legacy phase.’ This was very important, to make sure that we would always remember that we need to build something that has a real value for people after the Games."
3. Strong political will and experienced professionals are necessary to address issues promptly and avoid delays that could compromise environmental goals.
4. Regular, transparent reporting and effective communication. "The less time you have, the more you have to communicate. We realized that most unresolved issues stem from ineffective communication.”
5. Effective risk and change management, including investing in multiple contingency plans (even a loss) is essential for maintaining momentum and meeting deadlines.  
6. Keeping an open dialogue with local officials to ensure that infrastructure meets local needs and provides long-term community value. “You always have to keep in mind what the local needs are. Keep the dialogue going with local officials to make sure that the infrastructures, the buildings you build have a real value for people in the future.”

Krysinski also discussed Paris’s commitment to hosting a green Olympics. "We could call our Olympics the Olympics of reuse and repair," he said. The Games will focus on sustainability, with 95% of venues being existing or temporary, and a goal to cut emissions by 50% compared to previous Games. Paris managed to meet its goals despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to share its innovative methods in a report next year. The Games will also leave a legacy of new schools, parks, and affordable housing in an area of Paris that has historically lacked these amenities. “100% of SOLIDEO's budget goes to sites that have a second life after the games,” he added.

Antoine Guillou, Deputy Mayor of Paris, described how the 2024 Games fast-tracked urban transformations in Paris, including expanding biking lanes and cleaning the Seine River. "We now have more bikes than cars in Paris," he said. Katy Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Councilmember, spoke about the 2028 Games as a chance to advance LA’s climate and infrastructure goals. LA plans to update existing facilities rather than build new ones and will use existing student housing at UCLA for the athletes' village. Yaroslavsky highlighted LA's goal to create a lasting legacy and transform the city with sustainable improvements: “If we do this right, I think we're going to provide transformative change for Los Angeles for a hundred years to come.”

Tania Braga addressed myths about Olympic venues, clarifying that most remain in use and that budget overruns are often due to errors in scholarship. The IOC reports that 85% of the 900 venues built for Olympic Games since 1896 are still in use, with the number increasing to 92% for 21st-century structures.

On the day of the conference, temperatures were 35°C (95°F) in Brisbane and 44°C (111°F) in Los Angeles. Rising temperatures are a significant challenge in preparing for the Olympics and developing urban infrastructure.

Los Angeles is improving public spaces with better sidewalks, shade, and amenities. "Sustainability is not just about climate action, but about how people live in the city," said Erin Bromaghim. Katy Yaroslavsky highlighted the need for safe biking infrastructure, noting that her family currently has to drive to find suitable bike lanes. “We have an obligation to make sure that we have a transportation network that's connected, safe, and carries people where they actually need to go,” she said.

In Brisbane, major plans include a fully electric metro system and expanded rail lines to improve connectivity. Krista Adams highlighted this as the city's biggest transformation and noted Brisbane's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2032. She emphasized that the city's transport legacy will benefit both the Games and the community in the long term. The city is also redeveloping sites into high-density residential areas to address housing shortages. The 2032 Summer Olympics will be held in the middle of winter in Australia, also to avoid monsoon rains.

During the Q&A session, Erin Bromaghim praised Paris’s Cultural Olympiad for its innovation and inclusivity, creating a vibrant experience throughout the city. She noted that Paris’s motto, ‘Games Wide Open,’ was reflected in their city-wide activations and inclusiveness. Los Angeles plans to build on this by integrating its rich cultural landscape into its Cultural Olympiad, focusing on historic neighborhoods like Koreatown and Little Tokyo. Tania Braga stressed the importance of the Cultural Olympiad in reflecting Olympic values through cultural expression and engaging a global audience.

Looking ahead, Yann Krysinski expressed enthusiasm about future collaborations with LA and Brisbane and sharing best practices. Erin Bromaghim valued the community-led design insights gained from Paris. Tania Braga emphasized the importance of personal engagement with the Games, saying, “I will never not go to an Olympic and Paralympic games again!”

Event Speakers

Opening Remarks

• Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Founding Director, City Diplomacy Lab
• Mr. David McCawley, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Paris
• Mr. Antoine Guillou, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of public space cleanliness, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and sanitation
• Ms. Gulnara Roll, Head of the Cities and Buildings Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 
• Ms. Katy Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles City Councilmember, Chair of the City Council’s Energy & Environment committee, and Vice-Chair of the Ad Hoc Olympics committee
• Ms. Krista Adams, Deputy Mayor, Civic Cabinet Chair for the Economic Development, Nighttime Economy and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee and Councillor for Holland Park, Brisbane City Council

Round table

• Dr. Tania Braga, Head of Olympic Games Impact and Legacy, International Olympic Committee
•  Ms. Erin Bromaghim, Deputy Mayor of International Affairs, City of Los Angeles
• Ms. Krista Adams, Deputy Mayor, Civic Cabinet Chair for the Economic Development, Nighttime Economy and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee and Councillor for Holland Park, Brisbane City Council
• Mr. Yann Krysinski, Director of Operations at SOLIDEO
• Moderator: Dr. Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi, Founding Director, City Diplomacy Lab