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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡
The International Olympic Committee’s long-time sports director, Kit McConnell will return home to Australia to become the Chief Sport Officer for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic organizing committee.
Brisbane 2032 chief executive Cindy Hook (USA) explained the enormous advantage this will give to the organizing committee:
“In his new role, Kit will be responsible for designing our sport program, including the consideration of additional sports, and will lead our engagement with the international federations and national Olympic and Paralympic committees.
“Having worked within the Olympic movement for over two decades and as the IOC’s sports director for the last 11 years is a huge advantage for our team and for the athletes who will compete in 2032.”
McConnell, a dual national of Australia and New Zealand, is hardly new to this, as he served with the organizing committee in Sydney for the 2000 Olympic Games – in the sports department – then moved to the IOC’s sports department from 2000-02; he had previously worked there in 1996 and 1997.
He was the Rugby World Cup tournament director from 2002 to 2013 before coming back for a third stint at the IOC as its Sports Director, a position will he depart from on 30 June. He will begin his work in Brisbane on 21 July.
Brisbane 2032 chief Andrew Liveris added:
“Having had extensive conversations with most of the international federations and many committees during the Paris 2024 Games and since, I know how critical it is to provide constant planning and progress updates and to build good relationships with these key stakeholders.
“The fact that Brisbane 2032 has been able to secure the IOC sports director to lead our sport function is a huge coup.”
McConnell was selected following a global search, and continues the Brisbane 2032 “all-star” approach to hiring. In August, Paris 2024 Organising Committee Senior Director of Partnership and Licensing Francois-Xavier Bonnaillie (FRA) was hired as Chief Commercial Officer. He had worked previously for more than two decades with home products giant and Olympic sponsor Proctor & Gamble.
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The chatter over the ceremonies and track & field stadium for the 2032 Games continues, as 9News reported that the draft report of the 100-day review commission – by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority – has been provided to the Liberal National Party-led Queensland government for review, with the final report to be delivered on 8 March. The Queensland government has promised to make its decisions public on 25 March.
The 9News report stated that a new stadium in Victoria Park is being recommended as the facility for ceremonies and track & field, estimated to cost A$3.4 billion in a prior review from the Labor Party when it was in charge, in March 2024. That report noted (AUD 1 = $0.63 U.S.):
“The cost of a stadium in Victoria Park ($3.0 – $3.4 billion) is likely to be marginally more expensive than the full Gabba rebuild (more than $3.0 billion) with better operational efficiencies and outcomes that would deliver a true international standard venue enabling Brisbane to compete with other top stadiums in Australia and generate additional premium seating revenue.”
The prior Queensland government (Labor) declined to pursue either a renovation of the aging Brisbane Cricket Ground (Gabba) or the Victoria Park idea, instead preferring a less costly upgrade of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre for track & field and Lang Park for ceremonies.
Cost will be the issue for whatever option is chosen.
Another fight has broken out on the proposed Brisbane Arena, an A$3 billion project designed to create a new entertainment center in the city and which would host swimming – Australia’s biggest Olympic sport – in 2032.
Gold Coast, which successfully hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is pitching its facility instead of the arena, claiming it will save money. Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schwinner slapped back:
“The federal government has promised to fund a new inner city entertainment venue, but only IF it hosts the swimming at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. But now there are threats to shift the swimming to the Gold Coast.
“No swimming in Brisbane means no new entertainment venue and the opportunity to build a Federally-funded arena in the inner city may be lost forever.
“Building this venue isn’t about the Olympics. It’s about building a legacy that can benefit residents for decades to come.”
This question is also expected to be considered in the 100-day review report.
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