MONO Legacy Insights from Media Coverage of Atlanta 1996: Brisbane 2032 and Olympics Outside Mega Cities

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5209/esmp.102747
Keywords: Olympics, Brisbane 2032, Atlanta 1996, legacy, International Olympic Committee

Abstract

The Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics signal a shift from mega-city hosts to a more regional and sustainable approach to staging the Games. Uniquely in a Summer Olympic bid, Brisbane’s application was based on the hosts being from the broader Australian region of south-east Queensland. In appointing Brisbane, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach outlined the importance of sustainability and economic responsibility, and recognised the long-term regional and national strategies around development in Australia. In this changing global sports ecosystem, this paper examines the legacies of Atlanta 1996, a smaller-scale Olympics through media coverage of this edition of the Games, including general and sports reporting. The findings outline areas for the Brisbane 2032 organisers to consider in delivering an Olympics that is sustainable for the hosts. The Games were most effective for fulfilling elements related to sports legacies and the economic focus on making a profit, or not requiring government funding. There are considerable positives in the Olympic stadium still being in use, along with the aquatic centre, and the continued popularity of the public space and broader developments based around the Centennial Olympic Park.

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Author Biographies

Peter English, University of the Sunshine Coast

He is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism in the School of Business and Creative Industries at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. His chief research areas are sports journalism, media and journalism education. He has published more than 40 journal articles in national and international publications, two sole-authored books and five book chapters. He is also co-editor of Australian Journalism Review and co-chair of the Media, Communication and Sport Section of the International Association of Media and Communication Research. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5440-5730

David Fleischman, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

He is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing in the School of Business and Creative Industries at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. He researches in services marketing, sports marketing and mega events including the Olympics. He has worked regularly with industry partners and collaborated on funded projects with the Australian Institute of Sport, Queensland Academy of Sport, and Sunshine Coast Council. He was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended the 1996 Olympic Games. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1043-2021

Amy Clarke, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

She is a Senior Lecturer in History in the School of Law and Society at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. She specialises in heritage (particularly architectural), national and regional identity politics and branding, popular material culture, and the modern/contemporary histories of Scotland, Britain (and the British Empire), and Australia. She is also the Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching in the School of Law and Society. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8941-4175

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Published
2025-11-25
How to Cite
English P., Fleischman D. y Clarke A. (2025). MONO Legacy Insights from Media Coverage of Atlanta 1996: Brisbane 2032 and Olympics Outside Mega Cities. Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico, 31(4), 841-851. https://doi.org/10.5209/esmp.102747
Issue
Vol. 31 No. 4 (2025): Monográfico: El periodismo deportivo ante los retos de un contexto en constante evolución
Section
Monográfico

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