The president of the board for Brisbane’s Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (OCOG), Andrew Liveris, said ahead of the inaugural meeting on Wednesday last week, that the committee would make the most of the additional time to plan for the games.
“We are in a privileged position in that we are on target with our schedule and about four years ahead in comparison to other Games. Most other Games are in our delivery position six years out, not 10,” Mr Liveris said on Monday.
He said the board’s first task of importance would be to recruit a Chief Executive Officer for the OCOG.
“One of our top priorities will be to recruit a Chief Executive to help lead the OCOG and stand up the initial OCOG team. … People should expect that in these early years we will be planning, listening and learning from our colleagues on other Games. It is through this strategic thinking that we can coordinate the delivery program most effectively to set us up for success in 2032,” he said.
Mr Liveris said that the board was aware of its role to deliver “the biggest transformational event Queensland has seen this decade.”
“We are looking forward to showcasing Brisbane, Queensland and Australia to the world. We are eager to ensure principles of sustainability, inclusion and diversity are carried through our planning. We will deliver the OCOG’s responsibilities in a cost-neutral manner, so it is not a burden on taxpayers” Mr Liveris said.
The president of the Australian Olympic Committee and vice-president of International Olympic Committee, John Coates said that he looked forward to Mr Liveris’ leadership on the OCOG board.
“Andrew understands Olympic sport and what it stands for. His is a voice that will be listened to at home and internationally,” said Mr Coates.
The Federal Minister of Sport, Richard Colbeck said that the federal government had over the past nine months worked closely with Queensland’s government to set up the board which would “now take the lead on event planning.”
Queensland’s Premier and Minister for the Olympics Annastacia Palaszczuk said the meeting was an important step in the process to host the Games in 2032.
“It is about the years leading up to and following the Games that will completely transform our state,” she said.
The city’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the first meeting of the OCOG board represented a pivotal moment in Brisbane’s history.
“This group will deliver the biggest sporting event in the world right here in Brisbane and it’s going to be a huge task to ensure our city is ready to be showcased to a global audience,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Further to that, the Board will have the important responsibility of ensuring Brisbane 2032 leaves a lasting legacy.
“I’m pleased the Board is now underway so we can get on with the job of delivering a Games that benefits our region’s residents for decades to come.”
The meeting was jointly opened with an Acknowledgement of Country by Aboriginal leaders Shelley Reys AO and Patrick Johnson AO.