IOC names powerful group to keep 2032 Games on track

A powerful group of athletes, royalty and diplomats have been named as the IOC’s representatives responsible for ensuring Brisbane’s Olympics are up to global standards.

A powerful group of former athletes, royalty and international diplomats have been named as the International Olympic Committee’s representatives responsible for ensuring Brisbane’s 2032 Games are up to global standards.

The IOC on Thursday evening named its powerful 2032 Coordination Commission which will be responsible for monitoring and guiding the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee.

The 12-person Brisbane Coordination Commission will include eight women.

Zimbabwe Sports Minister and five-time Olympian Kirsty Coventry will chair the commission.

Ms Coventry, who was chair of the Athletes Commission at the Tokyo 2020 Games, made her Olympic debut in Sydney.

“I’m so honoured and excited,” she said.

“I know the responsibility I have and I’m looking forward to working hard.

“(It’s) very special that I started my journey at Sydney 2000 and getting to now help deliver what I know will be an incredible games for athletes and the country is just awesome.”

Saudi Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, the country’s ambassador to the United States, will also sit on the commission with International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons.

Five-time Olympian Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe will chair the Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission.

Anita DeFrantz, who led the athletes in their ultimately unsuccessful attempts to overturn President Jimmy Carter’s boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, has also joined.

IOC President Thomas Bach said Ms Coventry would lead a new generation of IOC members in the commission.

“As a double Olympic gold medallist and a former IOC Executive Board member, she has all the experience for this important task,” he said.

“The commission will co-operate closely with the Organising Committee to deliver together

sustainable and economically responsible Olympic Games.”

The commission will meet once a year until 2028 and then twice a year.

THE COMMISSION

Chair: Kirsty Coventry

Vice Chair: Anita DeFrantz

Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud

Dagmawit Girmay Berhane

William Frederick Blick

Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski

Andrew Parsons

Federica Pellegrini

Camilo Perez Lopez Moreira

Auvita Rapilla

Jean-Christophe Rolland

Baklai Temengil

Executive Director: Christophe Dubi