The Power of the Athlete’s Voice

For decades, the Olympic Movement has been evolving, placing athletes not just on the podium but at the heart of the Games. From early reforms in the 1980s to the athlete-first commitments embedded within Olympic Agenda 2020 and 2020+5, one message is clear: elite competitors are more than participants. They are stakeholders whose insights should directly influence how Olympic venues and environments are imagined, designed, and delivered.
At COX, this belief guided our recent Athlete’s Advisory Group Forum, an intimate event hosted in our Brisbane studio and co-led with our partners in award-winning venue designs, Hassell. We welcomed five Australian Olympians: Matthew Denny, Kelsey-Lee Barber, Bree Rizzo, Reece Holder, and Genevieve Gregson. Their enthusiasm was immediate. We’d come prepared with a list of questions – but in the end, we didn’t need them. A few simple prompts were all it took to spark a conversation that flowed for the entire session.


Maybe it’s a sign that they’re not invited into these conversations often enough. Or maybe it’s just a reflection of how deeply they want to be part of the dialogue around one of the biggest events in an athlete’s career. Either way, the honesty and energy in the room made one thing clear: genuine engagement like this is rare. Genevieve attended the session less than 48 hours after giving birth (newborn in tow, hospital band still on her wrist!), her presence alone a powerful reminder of just how important this forum was.
These athletes carry not only their own hopes and dreams but also the pride of a nation. They compete under extraordinary psychological, physical, and emotional pressure, where every element of their environment can influence performance. That’s why designing for athletes must extend well beyond competition. Village design, accommodation, food, transport, call rooms, recovery spaces, venue planning, bowl design and atmosphere all play a critical role in shaping outcomes. When designed well, they enable greatness. When they fall short, they become hurdles to success.



We’re not guessing. We’re not assuming. We’re asking. We’re delivering.
As Brisbane 2032 draws closer, COX is proud to be part of the national conversation on Olympic legacy. With experience in major venue design such as Optus Stadium in Perth, Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Anna Meares Velodrome in Chandler, Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, Adelaide Oval in Adelaide and Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport, we continue to advocate for athletes-first environments that not only support peak performance but help create a positive, memorable Olympic experience.
Because elite athletes deserve elite conditions. And we’re designing for them, not just around them.

A sincere thank you to all the athletes who generously shared their time and insight, to the Australian Olympic Committee and Australian Athletics for supporting this initiative, and to our partners at Hassell. This is the first in a series of Athlete Forums, and their voices are already helping shape the future of the Games.