By Tom Decent
Incoming Australian Olympic Committee chief executive Mark Arbib has pledged to challenge the dominance of the NRL and AFL in a bid to keep Australia’s best young talent in Olympic sports ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Games.
The former Labor powerbroker, who has served on the AOC executive since 2016, will replace outgoing chief executive Matt Carroll, whose eight-year tenure ends next month at the organisation’s annual general meeting.
Arbib, who served as Athletics Australia’s president for six years until 2021, edged out former Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley and Commonwealth Games Australia president Ben Houston for one of Australian sport’s most influential roles.
One of Arbib’s key objectives is to make sure major sporting codes don’t poach rising stars who could have represented Australia at the Brisbane Olympics.
The growing salaries in the women’s football codes have highlighted the need for Australia’s Olympic sports to up their game when it comes to identifying and retaining talent. Australia’s 18 gold medals at the Paris Olympics was its highest haul.
“I’m a big fan of the NRL, and I’m a big fan of the AFL – I love those sports – but they are absolute commercial giants, they’re juggernauts,” Arbib said. “We need to ensure that we are on the playing field and that we are fighting for every dollar and for every athlete. As a movement, as a sporting organisation, we need to fight hard. That’s one of the greatest challenges.
Newly appointed AOC chief executive Mark Arbib. Credit: Getty Images for the AOC
“This is not a declaration of war. We’ll work with them. Peter V’landys [NRL] and Andrew Dillon [AFL] are two people I admire, and they are hugely successful at what they do. They’re expanding now. Their women’s competitions are extremely successful, so we’re competing for talent now in the women’s sports space. What I don’t want to see is that impacting upon our results.
“We will do everything possible to try and raise more funds for our sports through philanthropy and through fundraising. Australians want a successful team. They want a successful team at the winters [2026 and 2030], LA [2028] and Brisbane [2032].”
Arbib held several ministerial portfolios, including minister for sport and assistant treasurer, before he resigned from politics in 2012.
The 53-year-old former Labor senator was a key figure in the 2010 coup against Kevin Rudd when the prime minister was ousted for Julia Gillard.
Arbib said he didn’t believe his history with the Labor Party would impact his ability to work with Liberal politicians, including Queensland premier David Crisafulli or a potential prime minister-to-be in Peter Dutton.
Newly appointed AOC CEO Mark Arbib speaks to the media during an Australian Olympic Committee media announcement at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Credit: Getty Images for the AOC
“I’ve got just as many friends on the Liberal side as I’ve got on the Labor side. That’s not going to surprise you,” Arbib said. “I get on well with Peter Dutton. I get on well with Anthony Albanese. I’ll work with whoever the prime minister is, like the rest of the board.
“We are very lucky in this country to have two leaders who are so committed to public service, and we’ll work closely with them to get the best for our athletes, to get the best for our sports. That’s my commitment.”
AOC president Ian Chesterman said he was comfortable with the process followed, given Arbib has served on the AOC executive since 2016.
“Mark obviously expressed his interest to me after Matt [Carroll] gave notice he was stepping away from the role. I said to him, ‘Mark, you’re a great candidate, please put your application in because you’ll be treated like everyone else’. It was a very thorough process,” Chesterman said. “I’m surprised how challenging it was, and it produced a great result for us.”
Former federal sports minister Mark Arbib in 2012. Credit: Andrew Meares
Arbib added: “I let the president know [I was applying] because there’s obviously a conflict, and then I’m completely straight out of the process.”
Arbib’s appointment comes ahead of a crucial period for Australian sport, seven years from the Brisbane Olympics.
The AOC will take a back seat in some respect as planning ramps up for Brisbane 2032, handing over management of its commercial rights to the organising committee from 2027.
AOC chef de mission for Milano Cortina Alisa Camplin, newly appointed AOC CEO Mark Arbib, AOC president Ian Chesterman and AOC chef de mission for Los Angeles 2028 Anna Meares. Credit: Getty Images for the AOC
Arbib will remain a key figure as another home Olympics approaches, with strengthening ties to national sporting federations and government among his top priorities. He will also need to build a relationship with new International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry.
“The message I’d like to send her is that Australia – the AOC and our government – want to work with her,” Arbib said. “We want to deliver the best Games ever in Brisbane.”
After leaving federal politics, Arbib spent a decade as a senior executive with James Packer’s private investment company, including on the billionaire’s Crown Sydney casino venture.
He has also been a director of Sydney FC and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, on whose board he sat representing James Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings.
Global executive recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson was hired by the AOC to conduct an international search.
“It’s an honour to help lead this great movement,” Arbib said.