SYDNEY, Apr 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), has announced the board of directors that would be responsible for organising the country’s third-ever Olympic Games, due to be held in Brisbane in 2032.
Premier of the host state of the Olympics, Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, made the announcement alongside Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison yesterday.
“Our job is to honour the commitments I made to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but also provide a lasting legacy for our state, and I am confident that is exactly what we will achieve,” said Palaszczuk.
The board of the Olympic organising committee would comprise of five members, prominent in Australian business and sport. At the head of operations is former CEO and Chairman of the Dow Chemical, Andrew Liveris.
Other members include Rob Scott, former Olympic rower and current chairman of Rowing Australia; Dr. Sarah Kelly, Deputy Chair at Tourism and Events, Queensland; Brett Clark, Founder and Managing Director of ePharmacy; and Shelley Reys, Indigenous Australian and Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia.
AOC President, John Coates said, the diverse and Olympic background of the board members put the Games in “exceptionally good hands.”
“Now we have a board in place to deliver a great Games and to deliver on Brisbane’s promise to the IOC. Importantly, athletes will be at the centre of our planning,” said Coates.
The city of Brisbane plans to construct four additional venues for the Games, and use 12 existing venues, as it aims to achieve a “climate positive” Olympics.
The projected cost of the Brisbane Games was 4.5 Billion Australian dollars (about 3.35 billion U.S. dollars), however, it is expected to generate nearly double that investment for Queensland.
“We have spoken many times about the enormous opportunity the Games presents Brisbane, Queensland and Australia, in terms of supercharging sport, generating employment, fast-tracking necessary infrastructure and providing an enduring legacy for the Queensland community,” said Coates.
Australia hosted the Olympic Games in 1956 in Melbourne, and 2000 in Sydney. This would be the first Games in the city of Brisbane.– NNN-AGENCIES
