Brisbane 2032 Olympics: More details emerge on board overhaul

Knives are being sharpened and some huge names are on the chopping block from the Brisbane Olympic Games board. SEE WHO

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris

Organisers of Brisbane’s Olympic and Paralympic Games insist it is business as usual despite the axe hanging over the heads of one dozen high-profile business and sports leaders.

The 24-person board will be reduced, likely to near 14 members, in an effort to improve decision-making among organisers.

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The decision, revealed by The Courier-Mail, has sparked uncertainty among some board directors about their future within the inner-circle planning Brisbane’s Games.

It is understood the number of politicians on the board will be reduced while high-profile business identities and former athletes are also likely to face the cut.

However, despite the uncertainty, former world No.1 golfer Greg Norman will attend his first board meeting on Friday.

Greg Norman is on the chopping block. Picture: Liam Kidston

Norman’s standing in global business and sport is expected to see him avoid the future cull.

Any change to the board structure also requires the approval of the Prime Minister.

Board members declined to speculate on their future and instead referred to a statement crafted by the organising committee.

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris welcomed the government’s decision.

“Optimising the structure of the Brisbane 2032 board is something we support and we will work with the Queensland Government on the details and implications of the Games Independent Infrastructure Co-ordination Authority’s report on governance,” he said.

“The board will continue to operate in its current form until government recommendations have been finalised, in consultation with Brisbane 2032.”

Authority chair Stephen Conry revealed the panel decided against suggesting who should be axed from the board.

Who's safe and whose future is uncertain

“We just made recommendations on the number, so now the state and federal government have got to come to the view on the who,” he said.

Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Tim Mander said the government was yet to determine who would remain on the board and the numbers following a restructure.

The process to determine it could take months.

Mr Mander said board members were informed about the cull, which will be discussed further at Friday’s meeting.

“I think the size that the board is at the moment was appropriate when it was first established,” he said.

“But as we get closer to the games it’s important that we become more agile and more efficient with our decision making.

Will Natalie Cook survive? Picture: Tara Croser.

“The more people that’s on the board the more complicated it can be.

“So we accept that recommendation by the panel and now we’re just working through details of what that will look like.”

Premier David Crisafulli last week revealed the government’s Olympic delivery strategy after considering the Games Independent Infrastructure Authority review – which resulted in a new 63,000-seat stadium in Victoria Park.

Mr Mander said he would meet with Gymnastics Queensland this week to address their concerns ageing infrastructure would not be upgraded.

“They are valid questions, and we’ll go through those discussions this week,” he said.