Universal Design: A Human Right

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games just ended, following their Olympic counterpart in the same city and venues.

While the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect align with the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration, and equality, this convergence raises an important question: do host countries truly treat both Games with equal consideration?

Historically, athletes with disabilities have faced barriers to participation, including limited visibility, inadequate accessible infrastructure, fewer opportunities in childhood, and the high cost of specialised equipment. In Australia, for instance, only one in four of the 4.4 million people living with a disability participates in sport, despite 75 percent expressing a desire to be involved.

Participation in sports, whether as an athlete, spectator, or fan, is a fundamental human right. This is not just a belief, but a principle enshrined by the United Nations and written into the very values of Olympism itself.

As we look to LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032, we have an opportunity to delve into the intricate interplay between the Olympic and Paralympic Games, exploring their symbolic, linguistic, organisational, and infrastructural connections. A universal design approach is essential to ensure that all stakeholders experience true inclusivity from the opening ceremony of the Olympics to the closing of the Paralympics.

[above] Anna Meares Velodrome, Queensland

Lessons Learned: The Games Ecosystem

The Paris 2024 Games, like those before them, offer valuable lessons for designers, especially in the realm of accessibility.

At any Games, the entire journey—whether for a spectator or athlete—must be seamless. Accessibility extends far beyond a venue; it’s an interconnected ecosystem that starts the moment someone arrives in the city and continues until they return home.

Recently, the Queensland Disability Network (QDN) examined the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games—the largest para-sport program in Games history. While the event led to improved infrastructure, QDN highlighted the need for better connectivity across the built environment. For true accessibility, all aspects of the journey—transport, venues, and public spaces—must be equally accessible and easily navigated.

Paris made progress in this area, offering services such as travel guides, recognition of hidden disabilities, wheelchair-friendly transfers, adaptable taxis, and assistance for train journeys. However, these services were not consistently available or for all stages of the journey. According to a report from the BBC, a wheelchair user in attendance said ‘it has been a challenge getting around Paris’ and that it was a ‘struggle to get around [likely] due to the fact it’s an old city.’ So, the question remains: is this the best we can do?

[below] Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2, completed to support the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

The Athlete’s Journey

In the past, accessibility for para-athletes has centred on provisions such as accessible parking, ramps, elevators, and Braille signage. However, Universal Design demands a more holistic approach.

Para-athletes are often left to navigate Athletes’ Villages that may not fully support their specific access needs. The Tokyo 2020 Games saw Paralympians initially pay out of pocket to modify nearby hotel rooms in Yokohama. While later reimbursed by city funds—it was a revealing oversight into gaps in accessibility planning.

Four years later, and Paris has been praised as the first Paralympics with a fully accessible Athletes’ Village for wheelchair users, but the main improvement seems to be larger ramps. In an interview with Architectural Review, an anonymous Para-athlete expressed concern over the lack of rest spaces, saying, “We’re worried the slightest effort will wear us out.” While ramps are important, they fall short of the full promise of Universal Design.

To fully meet the needs of all athletes, it is essential that designers incorporate other, forward-thinking principles, such as DeafSpace and neuro-inclusive design. Ensuring that rest and quiet areas, along with considerations for athletes with sensory needs, are part of the plan is critical

[below] Paralympian Brendan Hall competing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre 

The Spectator Journey

The spectator experience is also integral to Games success. Spectators encounter both the existing infrastructure of the host city and layers of temporary architecture, which can pose challenges if not thoughtfully designed.

Temporary venues, often built in public spaces on uneven terrain, must be designed to accommodate all visitors, ensuring they can move through the space and enjoy the event without difficulty. This includes smooth pathways, clear signage, and easy access to amenities such as restrooms and F+B offerings.

Inside stadiums and other sporting venues, every attendee should have an equal experience—easy access to seating, unobstructed views of the event, and full engagement with the atmosphere. For individuals with disabilities, this means ensuring comfort in crowded spaces and providing reliable support from companions or staff. VR and AR offer aid here, providing immersive pre-event virtual tours, real-time navigation support, and detailed accessibility information. VR enables users to explore venues in advance, reducing anxiety, while AR offers on-site, real-time guidance via smartphones or glasses, highlighting accessible routes and facilities.

We also see this approach take the aging population into consideration, ensuring those spectators can also enjoy events with ease, comfort, and independence. Features like step-free access, wider seating aisles, and ramps make navigation seamless, while clear signage and intuitive layouts enhance safety and reduce stress. Accessible restrooms, seating, and concessions ensure everyone can participate fully in the excitement. By integrating accessible transport and reducing physical barriers, these venues encourage older fans to stay active and connected, making sports an enjoyable, inclusive experience for people of all ages.

Universal Design: A Human Right

Universal Design is not just a philosophy—it’s a human right. The seven principles of Universal Design—equitable use, flexibility, simplicity, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and appropriate size and space—are the foundation upon which we must build. These principles guide us in creating sports venues that are more than compliant; they are spaces that inspire, empower, and unite. Plus, when spaces and amenities are built to be accessible for everyone from the outset, there’s no need for costly adaptations later.

Transforming Sports Architecture

Brisbane has already begun its journey toward accessible venues, with several accessible existing facilities set to play a role in the 2032 Games, including the COX-Designed Anna Meares Velodrome and Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

[below] Anna Meares Velodrome

Equitable Use: COX’s design for Allianz Stadium sets a new benchmark for inclusive design, seamlessly integrating equity throughout the venue. The stadium features sensory rooms, augmented hearing systems, wheelchair-accessible seating, and accessible viewing platforms—giving people true choice rather than limiting them to designated areas. Even the hospitality spaces are fully accessible to staff with disabilities, reinforcing the stadium’s commitment to inclusivity at every level.

Flexibility in Use:  At Queensland Country Bank Stadium, accessibility goes beyond standard facilities, with “Changing Places” rooms designed for individuals with profound and multiple disabilities, motor neurone disease, cerebral palsy, and the aging population. These rooms include height-adjustable hoists, changing benches, toilets, and showers, providing emergency care for those who need it. At Allianz Stadium, the players’ recovery room is equipped with hoists to assist athletes with disabilities. For spectators, “Changing Places” facilities are accessible both internally and externally, with wheelchair positions featuring adjacent removable buddy seats for assistance dogs, and assisted listening systems are available to enhance the experience for all.

[below]Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Simple and Intuitive Use: COX’s ‘fans first’ approach shines at Optus Stadium, where intuitive wayfinding systems enable spectators to effortlessly navigate the 60,000-seat venue and its expansive precinct. Powered by over 1,200 Bluetooth beacons and the Optus Stadium app, real-time navigation allows fans to easily find their seats, locate amenities, and enjoy the action without hassle. This smart integration ensures that everyone, including those with disabilities, can move freely and fully immerse themselves in every event.

Perceptible Information: At Allianz Stadium,  state-of-the-art assistive technologies ensures that all spectators, regardless of sensory abilities, receive critical information clearly and efficiently. Advanced digital signage displays critical announcements in large, legible fonts and high-contrast colours, while real-time auditory updates keep fans with visual impairments informed about game highlights and safety instructions. Hearing loops in key areas provide clarity for those using hearing aids, and tactile elements like Braille ensure that individuals with visual impairments can navigate with confidence.

[below] Optus Stadium

Tolerance for Error: Safety is non-negotiable. At Allianz Stadium, advanced safety features are designed to be fail-safe, ensuring that the venue remains secure for all users, even in unforeseen circumstances. This commitment to safety is bolstered by a collaborative approach, working alongside experts in various fields to identify potential risks and integrate innovative solutions.

Low Physical Effort: Low physical effort in design requires more thoughtful solutions than simply “ramps everywhere,” which can actually hinder some users. Through universal design, we can accommodate all disabilities, including those experienced by the aging population. This necessitates considering additional factors, such as automatic door opening systems and designated areas for accessible vehicle pickups.

Size and Space for Approach and Use: In the redevelopment of Ken Rosewall Arena, COX prioritized the principle of size and space for approach and use by utilising advanced CAD software to optimise spatial planning. This technology allowed the team to meticulously design accessible pathways and seating areas, ensuring that all users, regardless of their physical abilities, can navigate the arena with ease.

[below] Allianz Stadium

The Future of Sports Architecture

The Brisbane 2032 Games offer an unprecedented opportunity to set a new global standard for inclusivity. Now is the time for designers to shift their focus from simply building venues to creating legacies—legacies where universal design is not the exception but the norm. Through technical expertise and an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, designers must create environments where everyone can fully engage in the joy of sport.