Mark Stockwell outlines vision as he prepares for tilt at AOC top job

Brisbane businessman and Olympic silver medallist Mark Stockwell has set out his first moves if he succeeds John Coates to become the next president of the Australian Olympic Committee.

An Olympics summit involving the Prime Minister, state premiers and the country’s captains of industry would be the first major initiative under a Mark Stockwell-led Australian Olympic Committee.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Mr Stockwell, 58, will go head-to-head with AOC vice president Ian Chesterman, 62, for the AOC president’s job at a ballot on April 30.

The Olympic silver medallist has been crisscrossing the country in the past 18 months to shore up support among the 89 delegates.

The AOC presidency is seen as one of the most powerful roles in Australian sport.

Mr Stockwell said it was important that Brisbane Olympics 2032 be seen as a national showpiece.

Queensland Olympian and businessman Mark Stockwell is vying to become the head of the Australiam Olympic Committee. Picture: Tara Croser.

“We have to get rid of this parochial, almost colloquial, belief in some quarters that it’s a Queensland event,’’ he said.

“It’s a national event, in fact it’s much more than that. It’s an international execution, at every level.’’

Mr Stockwell said a national summit to tap into the business community’s “buy in’’ for the Olympics was vital.

“That (a summit) would be my first priority,’’ he said.

“The Olympics is not about solely sport. It’s about bringing people together, in fact that’s one of the four Olympic pillars.

“I want the PM there, the premiers, the bosses of Qantas, Wesfarmers, Woolworths, BHP, Rio … they all need to be there. It’s time for the AOC to make a paradigm shift.’’

Mr Stockwell said the opportunity for major infrastructure provisions – such as heavy rail and a second M1 – was crucial.

“The decision-makers have to build the southeast of the future off the back of these Games,’’ he said. “The AOC can play a huge role in that.’’

The battle for the AOC presidency comes as incumbent John Coates steps down after 31 years in the role.

While Mr Coates relinquishes his AOC role, he remains a vice-president of the International Olympic Committee and is a board member of the 2032 Olympic Games organising committee, to be headed up by former Dow Chemicals boss and Trump adviser, Andrew Liveris.

Mr Stockwell’s wife, champion swimmer Tracey Stockwell, is also on the Brisbane Games board and is President of Swimming Australia.