Brisbane 2032 Olympics: IOC bosses ‘blown away’ by tour

Some of the International Olympic Committee’s top brass have toured Queensland’s 2032 Games host regions, delivering some clear feedback.

Olympic heavyweights are crazy for Queensland after being “blown away” during a whirlwind tour of the state a decade before the 2032 Games.

Some of the International Olympic Committee’s top brass, including Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi and operations boss Pierre Ducrey have spent the past three days travelling across the southeast, visiting dozens of Games venues in Brisbane and on the Gold and Sunshine coasts as well as sampling some quintessential Queensland experiences.

From seafood smorgasbords to encounters with cuddly locals and barefoot beach walks, the delegates were left glowing in their praise for the region, which will become the centre of the world’s attention for a fortnight in 2032.

Speaking on a perfect autumn day at the top of the Q1 tower in Surfers Paradise, Mr Dubi said “Queensland is special”, gushing about the region’s potential as an Olympic host.

Mr Dubi has been with the IOC for more than 25 years and is now one of the organisation’s most senior figures, effectively in charge of delivering Olympic Games’.

Christophe Dubi is one of the IOC’s most senior executives. Picture: Nigel Hallett

He said Queensland would deliver a stunning Olympics.

“On top of the incredible venues, what I’ve been struck by is the fantastic people and spirit,” he said.

“Queensland is very special, let’s be clear.

“Your lifestyle is very special because it’s outdoors and it’s around sports, and we feel very fortunate to be in a community like this.

“We are very excited and very confident.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and members of the IOC inspect the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre and chat to BMX Gold medallist Logan Martin. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Former Zimbabwean swimming star and current IOC executive Kirsty Coventry said she was excited to visit the future Olympic host.

“I have only heard incredible things (about the march to 2032),” she said.

The IOC delegation was yesterday accompanied by Premier and Olympics Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said the visit marked the start of a golden decade towards 2032.

“We’ve got 10 years to continue to showcase what Queensland has to offer and it’s not just about those 10 years – it’s also about the 10 years afterwards and the great Queensland lifestyle,” she said.

“We’re showing everything Queensland has to offer.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was all smiles after a visit from International Olympic Committee executives. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The group visited Carrara’s Metricon Stadium and indoor sporting precinct, Robina’s Cbus Super Stadium, the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Broadwater Parklands and Coomera Indoor Sports Centre as well as a walk along Kurrawa Beach and lunch overlooking the water at Southport Yacht Club.

Mr Dubi and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate bonded over a mutual love of classic cars, but there was no time in the schedule for a quick visit to the nearby Gold Coast Motor Museum.

It followed a tour of the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday, where delegates were overcome with emotion during a moving Welcome to Country ceremony hosted by Indigenous elders from the Kabi Kabi people overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains before touring the terrain which will be home to mountain biking events during the Games.

The Sunshine Coast itinerary also included stops at some of the region’s other mooted Olympic venues as well as a visit to the iconic Australia Zoo and a seafood smorgasbord for lunch at Mooloolaba surf lifesaving club with Deputy Premier and State Development and Planning Minister Steven Miles.

IOC Games executive director Christophe Dubi and IOC executive Kirsty Coventry joined Premier and Olympics Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate at Q1 during an IOC visit to the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

That followed several site visits in Brisbane on Monday with Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, where delegates inspected Suncorp Stadium, the Gabba and the early stages of the Cross River Rail project.

The delegates were said to be in awe of the Cauldron, Queensland’s home of rugby league which will host both soccer and Rugby Sevens during the Olympics.

The Gabba is likely to be almost unrecognisable from its current form, with a massive expansion planned to take the venue’s capacity up to 50,000 as the beating heart of 2032, but Suncorp, often called one of the world’s best rectangular stadiums, will remain virtually unchanged.

A Games insider said the delegation was “blown away” by what they saw during their tour around the southeast.

“They were super impressed,” the insider said.

“Not just by the venues, but by the people they met, they’re very taken with the Queensland hospitality and spirit.”

Mr Dubi and Mr Ducrey flew out of the country after yesterday’s tour.

IOC President Thomas Bach, who was in Queensland last weekend for a series of 2032 briefings, is in Fiji for the Oceania National Olympic Committee annual general meeting, but will jet back to Brisbane on Saturday before returning to Europe.

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: IOC bosses ‘blown away’ by tour