An Idea, the Make-Do Brisbane Olympics.

                                                                                                                                                                        THE MAKE-DO OLYMPICS

My maternal grandfather spent his adult life running a property outside of Roma called Brucedale. He and his father built the homestead after they built their own sawmill. He could fix or make anything with some fencing wire, a piece of tin, a bit of wood and a couple of old nails salvaged from a demolished fence. He would make do with whatever he had in the shed. He would have never said he was creative; I doubt he would have known what the word meant. But I think he would have agreed that he had lots of ingenuity and the ability to be clever, original, and especially inventive.

In Brisbane, over the last couple of years, there has been a lot of debate and media about the cost of hosting the  2032 Olympic Games. At the same time, there has been a more dominant story, the housing crisis that Brisbane and the rest of Australia face. Brisbane has also invested enormously in ongoing infrastructure projects, including cross-river rail, the Brisbane metro and hospitals. These projects and the rising cost of living are driving up building prices. Suppose Brisbane will spend Billions on Olympic facilities for the next eight years. In that case, there will not be money or resources to finish the current infrastructure projects and effectively address the affordable housing crisis.

I propose we host the Make-Do games and spend the minimum amount, not billions. All those billions earmarked for new sporting facilities would go directly into affordable housing.

I have been inspired by one thing about the Paris Olympics: the opening ceremony doesn't need a stadium; it can be held in the streets.

In the spirit of backyard cricket and taking a lead from past Brisbane Festival events and the Museum of Brisbane BAD (Brisbane Art and Design) Exhibitions, which were held in suburbs across Brisbane, here are some ideas for venues for the Brisbane (Queensland) Olympics.

The equestrian events can be held at a gymkhana in Longreach.

The BMX racing can be at Birdsville.

The Townsville and JCU Rowing Club hosts the rowing on its 2km stretch of straight, albeit narrow, Ross River. No stadiums are required; people can sit on the banks for the river's length.

Shooting, archery, javelin, discus, and shot-put events can be held in country towns and/or Indigenous communities across the state.

The long jump, high jump, and pole vault events can be hosted in the Brisbane Mall, King George Square or local parks.

The heats of all indoor ball sports can be held in school sports centres across Brisbane, and the finals are held in entertainment and convention centres across the state.

We make do with what we currently have in terms of swimming, running, and cycling venues without an increase in seating.

All other events are held in stadiums across the state.

We make do with those venues' capacity and use the current technology of enormous high-definition screens to broadcast to gatherings around the state.

We show the world that we can use our creativity and ingenuity to Make Do with what we already have to host great games, even if, at times, we have to hold it together with a piece of fencing wire and a bit of tin.

And in the meantime, we focus on Do Make housing affordable for all Queenslanders—just an idea.

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