John Coates to remain in Brisbane Games role after quitting AOC post

Instrumental in helping Queensland secure the 2032 Games, sporting powerbroker John Coates will remain on the Brisbane organising board long after his retirement as president of the Australian Olympic Committee

Olympics powerbroker John Coates will remain on Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics organising board long after his retirement as president of the Australian Olympic Committee.

Under the legislation Mr Coates, who will retire as president of the AOC at its annual general meeting next year, will take up a role on Brisbane’s 2032 organising committee.

Mr Coates, 71, would also become one of five vice presidents of the committee – along with one of the people nominated by the Premier, one of those nominated by the Prime Minister, the President of Paralympics Australia and the Lord Mayor – through is honorary life membership of the AOC.

President of the Australian Olympic Committee John Coates in Brisbane earlier this year. Picture: Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images

Notably, the ability for the AOC to nominate either the president or its honorary life president to the 2032 board was introduced after state government consultation with stakeholders, including the AOC.

Mr Coates was instrumental in Brisbane securing the 2032 Olympic Games, guiding Queensland’s bid at arm’s length through the halls of the International Olympic Committee.

Brisbane’s victory was in-part a personal crusade for Mr Coates, who burst onto the global Olympic scene driving an ultimately unsuccessful Queensland bid for the 1992 Games.

He has been president of the AOC since 1990 and has been challenged for his role only once.