Key points
- New research finds seven in ten businesses see an opportunity in Brisbane 2032, but just 16 per cent are ready to act.
- CommBank launches Opportunity 2032, a procurement readiness program to help businesses get off the starting blocks, as Founding Partner and Official Bank of Brisbane 2032.
Seven in ten Australian businesses see an opportunity in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but only 16 per cent say they would be ready to act if a relevant prospect opened in the next 12 months, according to new CommBank research.
With less than six years until Brisbane 2032, the findings highlight an opportunity for Australian businesses to start preparing now for an event that will put Australia on the global stage and create opportunities across industries, supply chains and communities.
Businesses see the opportunity, but many need support to get ready
Brisbane 2032 is already on the radar for many businesses, but the majority are not yet ready to act. Nearly four in ten (38 per cent) say they need more preparation, while 27 per cent need help working out whether an opportunity is right for them.
As Founding Partner and Official Bank of Brisbane 2032, CommBank is launching Opportunity 2032 to help Australian businesses understand, prepare for and participate in Games-related opportunities. The program starts with an online hub bringing together practical information, guidance on how to prepare and links to official supplier information including the Games Supplier Portal.
Businesses want a clear path to 2032
- Businesses are also clear about what would help, with the top three asks being information or navigation support (65 per cent), tender or capability support (46 per cent) and partnership or connection support (37 per cent).
- Demand for tender help rises with turnover: businesses turning over $2 million or more are more likely than those turning over less than $2 million to want tender and capability support.
Some businesses may be counting themselves out too soon
Nearly four in ten (38 per cent) think a business needs to be based in Brisbane or Queensland to have a role, suggesting some businesses may be counting themselves out too early.
Preparation can't wait for the starting gun
CommBank Group Executive Business Banking, Mike Vacy-Lyle, said: "Brisbane 2032 could be a significant growth opportunity for Australian businesses, but preparation needs to start early. Building capability and getting a business ready to deliver takes time.
"The impact of Brisbane 2032 will reach well beyond major projects, creating opportunities for businesses across industries, regions and supply chains. We're launching Opportunity 2032 to give Australian businesses a practical starting point to understand where they might fit and what they may need to do to prepare. The earlier businesses understand the landscape and their own readiness, the better placed they'll be when relevant opportunities arise."
Lessons from Paris: start early, think broadly
Former Paris 2024 Chief Finance and HR Officer Fabrice Lacroix said: The message from Paris is simple: if Australian businesses wait until Brisbane 2032 opportunities are advertised to start preparing, they may already be too late. The work starts now - understanding where you fit, building the right capability and partnerships and making sure you can deliver when the opportunity comes.
"And this is not only a story for big companies. Paris 2024 was delivered by thousands of suppliers across hundreds of categories, including small and medium businesses and specialist suppliers. Brisbane 2032 will create its own ecosystem, and Australian businesses should be thinking now about where they could fit.
"My strong advice, especially for small and medium businesses, is to anticipate and to be patient. You have to be ready when the opportunity shows up. There will be so many tenders that you might not be selected in the first or second round, but the Games are so huge that they mobilise the entire production capacity of the host country, and sometimes even that is not enough."
Businesses can access Opportunity 2032 at commbank.com.au/opportunity2032
*The research was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Commonwealth Bank among 1,010 Australian business owners and senior decision makers with an online survey methodology between 18 - 26 September 2026. Data was weighted by state and business size to broadly reflect the Australian business population, in which around four in five are small businesses
