No need for panic, we’ve got this: 2032 Games president

[Pelican Press 0]

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No need for panic, we’ve got this: 2032 Games president

Despite uncertainty over where many Brisbane Olympics events will be held, president Andrew Liveris assures his organising committee has “got this”.

Mr Liveris has returned to Australia full of learning and legacy aspects unearthed at Paris 2024.

But he says his committee must see costings on an athletics stadium proposal before taking a position on its build.

Mr Liveris cited being within the Stade de France watching Olympic sevens rugby to convey the power and revenue having a suitable sized stadium can provide.

Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are 2865 days away but a cloud ******** on major stadium infrastructure.

The state government has committed to giving the ageing Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) south of the city a facelift even after it was ruled out as a venue by an independent review.

Premier Steven Miles ignored that advice and backed the centre with a business case underway to establish costs.

But the project validation report on QSAC will not be delivered until the second quarter of 2025, Mr Miles said on Wednesday.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli has flagged a review of infrastructure if elected on October 26.

He said the premier’s decision to back QSAC was a “captain’s call” to alleviate political pressure.

Mr Liveris said the committee cannot take a position until costings are delivered.

“We’ve been very, very clear. I’ve been very, very clear that until we see numbers on QSAC there is no position Brisbane 2032 is taking,” he told reporters.

“We need to know the cost aspect of what would be an athletic stadium.

“In terms of the Olympics and the delivery, we’re committed to a budget – $5 billion – and we’ve got to get that budget right.

“You just have to be in the Stade de France watching the sevens rugby with 80,000 people providing revenue and top sponsors providing revenue to understand the power of having a right sized stadium.”

Mr Liveris said there were two major learnings from Paris 2024 – the athlete experience and the fan experience.

While Paris had 40,000 gendarmes on the streets for security, he said their presence was never felt.

Paris also successfully integrated the fan experience with their venues.

Brisbane had an activation site in the city of love that saw 1.5 million people view their billboard that was held at an ***********-owned coffee shop in the French capital.

Slowly but surely Brisbane is finding its place on the world stage and the globe will know Queensland’s capital when the Los Angeles Games come around in 2028, Mr Liveris said.

Importantly, time is on the Sunshine State’s side.

“We have 2865 days to get this right,” Mr Liveris said.

“Paris were still deciding on venues 600 days out. Los Angeles still hasn’t finalised many of their venues for many of their sports.

“So, please don’t panic. We’ve got this.”

When asked about the biggest thing Brisbane can learn from Paris on Wednesday, Minister Grace Grace quipped “not to swim in the Seine”.

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