IOC Commission chair Kirsty Coventry pours water on chaos engulfing the government over the 2032 Games

The chair of the International Olympic Committee says it will not intervene on venue masterplanning for the Brisbane Games despite shambolic uncertainty surrounding its centrepiece stadium. HAVE YOUR SAY

Premier Steven Miles has revealed the Brisbane Arena is the project he wants to “get cracking on” now a location has been secured.

It comes after the International Olympic Committee confirmed it won’t step in to dictate how Brisbane should plan its 2032 Games and says there’s “no reason to start panicking” about uncertainty over venues.  

Speaking on the Gold Coast this morning, Mr Miles said he expected the first tenders to go out next month.

“That starts with the sporting facilities on the Sunshine Coast. The other community venues are all pretty much ready to go in quarter two and three of this year,” he said.

“Obviously there’s more work now to be done on QSAC and how we can make that the Olympic athletics stadium, as well as to determine what upgrades are necessary at Suncorp Stadium to make it the venue for the opening ceremony, but clearly they are much smaller projects so there is less time pressure associated with them.

Premier Steven Miles.

“The arena is the one that we need to get cracking on. Now that we have a site there will need to be some work done to identify what changes need to be done to the plan.

“As well as how we can connect the new site to Roma St station. Once that work is done I know the Australian government is eager for us to get those tenders out as quickly as we can.”

The International Olympic Committee held its second annual meeting of the Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032 overnight, one week after reports the Queensland Government discussed cancelling the Games.

IOC Commission chair Kirsty Coventry poured water on the chaos engulfing the government over the 2032 Games and its shifting venues, declaring the IOC remained “very positive” about Brisbane.

“This is the time for those changes to happen,” she said.

“There’s really no reason to start panicking at this point.”

International Olympic Committee Commission chair Kirsty Coventry said she was “very positive” about the Brisbane Games. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

While the IOC-funded organising committee is pressing ahead with brand development and commercial growth, the state government has drawn criticism for ongoing uncertainty over the main Olympic stadium.

Premier Steven Miles last week rejected an independent review that warned against spending $1.6bn to make Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre the athletics arena, drawing widespread criticism from athletes and stakeholders.

Ms Coventry said she was not concerned Brisbane’s Games plans would continue to change over the next several years.

“At some point the federal and state and the cities that are being used for the Games will hopefully come to an agreement sooner than later on what they feel is best,” she said.

“Obviously there will be a point at some point that we might start getting a little bit concerned.

“I don’t foresee this continuing on and on and on … I think there will be some good decisions made.”

Ms Coventry said the IOC would not intervene on venue masterplanning.

“We cannot dictate the needs of the region and it’s people, we have to hear that from the different levels of government,” she said.

“We don’t have a concern at this time and we will not be stepping in really at any point.

“We’re always there to help with the technical side of things and to give advice but it’s not for us to step in and give direction in a regional development for the government.”

The IOC insists it is focused on current plans despite Opposition Leader David Crisafulli pledging to again review it if the LNP is elected in October.

IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi said the commission would not speculate on future decisions stakeholders might make.

“What happens during the next election belongs to the future,” he said.

“Let’s not speculate, let’s be pragmatic.

“There is a lot of work to do and the plan is extremely clear at this point in time.

“Let’s roll the sleeves, do this work (and) bring as much detail to all the questions that are being asked.”

Aerial images of the Victoria Park stadium proposal which was knocked back by the state government. Picture: ARCHIPELAGO

He declared the work delivered by the organising committee was “amazingly precise”.

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee chair Andrew Liveris, echoing comments he made last week, declared the organising committee was working within the government’s guidelines.

“Due diligence is going to bear all but right now the state government has given us venues and we’re going to go work on that and we’ll have answers for our budgets and all the things we talked about … we’ll get back to you when we have answers,” he said.

Mr Liveris acknowledged the government’s shift of venues meant Games cost and revenue structures would need to be reconsidered.

The second co-ordination commission meeting discussed the successful development of an organisational strategy and Games plan – a document providing stakeholders with insights into the Games scope, priorities and governance mechanisms.

Brisbane 2032 organising committee also progressed its commercial strategy, which will enable it to deliver its commitment to remain self-funded.

It revealed the work already underway to develop brand strategy and emblem design.

Originally published as IOC Commission chair Kirsty Coventry pours water on chaos engulfing the government over the 2032 Games