Brisbane and Los Angeles have both expressed interest in showcasing UAM technology during the Olympics after Paris’ plans failed to launch. Credit: ArliftAtoz2205 / Shutterstock.

The City of Brisbane in Australia has highlighted the development of urban air mobility (UAM) infrastructure as one of its focuses during the city’s preparation for the 2032 Olympics in a new report on the opportunities for public transport during the event.

The report, titled ‘The race to gold- Brisbane’s Games transport legacy’, said the Olympics would present an opportunity to introduce the technology to the south-east Queensland region and showcase tourism and business offerings in the area. 

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It said: “Providing access across greater south-east Queensland is critical in supporting Brisbane’s role as an employment and economic hub within the region. 

“Additionally, the 2032 Games will be held at venues right across the region, making connectivity between our major centres crucial.” 

A timeline included in the report highlighted the city’s ambition for projects to be approved and funded by late 2026 for delivery by 2030 in time for operations to start a year before the beginning of the event.

Brisbane City Council, which published the report, said work on facilitating the collaboration needed between government agencies to plan UAM projects was already underway thanks to the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors. 

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The council also called for support from state and federal governments to back its ambitions, describing the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics as a “golden window” to “leave a lasting transport legacy” for Brisbane and warned the event’s success would depend on investment from all levels of government. 

Brisbane’s interest in the opportunity to showcase UAM and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technology at the 2032 event comes after similar plans to bring UAM infrastructure to France for the 2024 Olympics in Paris failed to materialise in time. 

While eVTOL company Volocopter completed a demonstration flight of its aircraft over Versailles on the last day of the Olympics last month, the company failed to achieve certification in time for the operation of the five routes across Paris it had originally hoped to achieve during the event. 

Brisbane may not be the first Olympics’ host to demonstrate UAM during its games though with Los Angeles, US, next to host the Games in 2028 and boasting its own ambitious plans for the event. 

In August, Californian eVTOL aircraft developer Archer Aviation announced its plans for a Los Angeles UAM network to begin operations by 2026 and Airport Technology that the 2028 Games would be an ideal opportunity to showcase its vehicle.