AOC Backs Bid Process by Queensland Mayors

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has agreed to support the Mayors of South-East Queensland (SEQ) with a possible bid for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The President of the AOC, John Coates, has today written to the SEQ Mayors giving anin-principle commitment to support them and their communities in their bid exploration process.

In the letter Coates says "we look forward to working with you on this project of national and international significance".

A formal expression of interest to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the 2028 Olympic Games is not required until January 2019 and such a bid requires the endorsement of the AOC.

Given the timeline Coates has informed the Mayors that "international interest in the cities bidding for the 2028 Olympics will intensify once the 2024 host city is determined in 2017. Accordingly, the AOC proposes that your Council of Mayors complete its feasibility study by the end of 2016 and, if you wish to proceed, take the first half of 2017 to secure the necessary Government support in order for the AOC to finally consider your bid and make

its decision in the second half of that year".

In March the Council of Mayors passed a resolution to explore the potential for a regional bid for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Coates has commended their approach and encouraged them "to clearly demonstrate all of the benefits for your region and residents to which you refer".

This will assist you to "obtain the necessary support of the Queensland and Federal Governments, business sector and the sporting and broader community".

The AOC letter goes on to say, "your consideration of an Olympic bid for SEQ is timely as it will provide the opportunity to take advantage of the IOC’s new philosophy whereby candidate cities are invited to present an Olympic project that best matches their sports, economic, social and environmental long term planning needs".

In particular, through its Olympic Agenda 2020 resolutions approved by the 127th IOC Session in Monaco in December 2014, the IOC now:

●actively promotes the maximum use of existing facilities and the use of temporary and demountable venues;

●allows the organisation of competitions across the SEQ region for reasons of sustainability; and

●contributes to the cost of bidding.

Later this year the IOC will release its Olympic Games Framework setting out the fundamental elements required for hosting the Olympic Games. This document will be available to potential applicant cities and allows them to shape their project and build a sustainable budget. It is intended to be a framework that allows for innovation.

By end September this year The Host City Contract (HCC) for the 2024 Olympic Games will be made public. It will set out the legal, commercial and financial rights and obligations of the IOC, the host city and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the host country.

"It will be an important guide for you" Coates says.

"In your study you should recognise the elements for the two different budgets related to the organisation of the Olympic Games: long term investment in infrastructure and return on such investment on the one hand, and the operational budget on the other.

The key to minimising the infrastructure budget is to focus on the use of existing and temporary and demountable venues. While for the operational budget you should know that for the 2024 Olympic Games the IOC will contribute an estimated USD1.5 billion to the success of the Games. This sum, together with national sponsorships and ticketing revenue accruing to the organising committee, should ensure that the operational budget essentially

breaks even, as was the case for the Sydney 2000 and London 2012 Games".

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