Let the search for Brisbane 2032 organisers begin: Palaszczuk wants ‘a lot of women’ on committee

Australia has a third Olympic Games in its grasp after Brisbane secured hosting rights for 2032. Now the search for those in charge of its delivery will begin, with promises of the best and brightest and a high representation of women at the top echelons of the future organising committee.

After a final presentation from Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates and Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner, International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates in Tokyo voted overwhelmingly – 72 to five – to award the Games to Queensland after it had been recommended by the IOC’s Future Hosts Commission.

Afterwards, the delegation began to drill down into some of the details of an event that will follow Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028. One of those will be the establishment of a local organising committee, which will then be tasked to work with three levels of government and the IOC to deliver on all aspects of the Olympics.

The head of that committee will be one of the key figures and most visible faces of the Games and Palaszczuk said she was already expecting a “lot of friends” to start registering their interest.

Legislation will be put in place before the end of this year to ensure an organising committee can start to be formed, even with the relative luxury of an 11-year lead time. Palaszczuk also said she had made a commitment to ensure a high number of women are involved.

“We are going to have a lot of friends who want to be on that organising committee. We’ll be making sure we have the right skills to deliver the Olympics. It will be a cross-section and I want to see a lot of women on that board as well. That’s my commitment,” Palaszczuk said.

And the winner is ... Brisbane.Credit: Getty

Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck said discussions about the recruitment process had already begun. Coates will automatically be on the organising committee as a home representative of the IOC. Other names might include swimmer Cate Campbell, who is running for election on the IOC Athlete Commission in Tokyo.

“There is a lot of discussion about representation, gender balance, all of those things. But we want good people. We want really good people to be able to manage the process of developing the Games themselves and running the Games themselves,” Colbeck said.

“All of those things are very actively being worked on right now, even discussions about establishing the recruitment processes.”

Schrinner was the most impressive delegate from the Brisbane bid team, speaking with eloquence and passion to the delegates. Later, he said the smile behind his mask was immense as he celebrated the milestone.

Queenslanders celebrate in Brisbane after the announcement.Credit: Getty

“I wish you could see the smile on my face. There is no greater moment for a city than to have the opportunity to host the world’s biggest sporting event,” he said.

“For a mid-sized city like Brisbane, with bold ambitions, today is the proudest moment you can imagine. This is a game-changer for the Olympic movement and our city and our state. We will not let you down.”

A video set the scene for the vote as Australian Olympic luminaries like Nova Peris spoke of what a Brisbane Games could deliver. It was all set to Mitch Tambo’s Indigenous language version of John Farnham’s You’re The Voice, along with flyovers of the city’s skyline and famous neighbouring coastlines.

Coates, who had been integral in the new bidding process that helped secure hosting rights but abstained from the vote, said it was important for the Olympic movement to award the Games to mid-sized cities like Brisbane in an effort to “future proof” the concept.

He said Brisbane would be the “Together Games”, seizing on the new Olympic motto that has been released this week in Tokyo. The renewed version adds together to the famous “Faster, Higher, Stronger” mantra: Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communis.

“This is a very proud day for Australia, make no mistake. I thank the IOC members for their confidence. Brisbane 2032 is genuinely committed to serving the ideals of the Olympic movement,” Coates said.

“The Olympic Games in Brisbane will be in the most diligent, grateful and enthusiastic hands. And I make this commitment to the athletes of the world – we will provide you with an unforgettable experience.”

The Brisbane bid team told delegates more than 80 per cent of venues were either built or would be temporary sites for the Games, with venues set around a trio of Olympic villages in central Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

New rail and road corridors are already planned and in some cases under construction, while a revamp of dated cricket ground The Gabba and a new indoor arena in Brisbane’s centre are key planks of the pitch.

Never miss a medal or great sporting moment with our Olympic update emailed daily. Sign up for our Sport newsletter here.