Chefs de Mission From Across the Commonwealth on the Gold Coast for Pre-Games Seminar

The Gold Coast will play host to one of the most important meetings before the Commonwealth Games this week with close to 130 Commonwealth delegates in town for the Chefs de Mission Seminar.

A collaborative initiative between the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the seminar is a combination of operational workshops, presentations and tours of competition venue and the Commonwealth Games Village.

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said the Chefs de Mission Seminar was a huge milestone in preparation for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).

"I am proud to welcome Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) representatives to Queensland and can’t wait for them to see the great work and meticulous preparation that is going into this city hosting the Games in just under six months’ time," she said.

"The Queensland Government has delivered all venues for the Games well ahead of time. We recently handed over the Southport Parklands site for transformation into the Commonwealth Games Village.

"I am confident that what they see and hear at this seminar will instil great confidence in the representatives from the 69 Commonwealth nations and territories that their athletes will have access to some of the best facilities in the world at the 2018 Commonwealth Games."

GOLDOC Chairman, Peter Beattie AC described the Chefs de Missions as the operational staff for the 68 CGAs who are effectively the ‘team behind the team’, with an objective to return home with as much information on GC2018 as possible and a great knowledge of what to expect at Games time.

"The CGAs use the learnings from the seminar to inform their planning to ensure their teams are well prepared on arrival for GC2018 with presentations across a variety of areas including medical, sport entries, anti-doping, ticketing and technology.

"They are also encouraged to conduct one-on-one meetings with key GOLDOC functional areas to discuss their individual CGA planning priorities.

"We will have some delegates with us who have not been to the Gold Coast or Australia and some who have been regular visitors. Whether they have been before or not, I have no doubt they will be very excited by what they see on the Gold Coast and in the event cities of Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns," Mr Beattie said.

CGF President Louise Martin CBE reflected on the importance of the Chefs de Mission Seminar, suggesting that the Chefs de Mission would in fact be the main point of contact for GOLDOC during the Games assisting with the management and information their teams need.

"We cannot underestimate how critical this seminar is to teams preparing for their journey to the Gold Coast and Australia.

"Their role is to provide information to the broader CGA, athlete team management and the athletes to make them feel at ease with their accommodation in the Games Village, access to training and competition venues, the ceremonies plan and importantly access to transport.

"This is a great opportunity for GOLDOC and its Games partners to showcase the venues in their current state and discuss the planning and implementation processes up until Games time.

"It is an interactive seminar where Chefs de Mission and associated CGAs are encouraged to ask as many questions as possible about the Games so they can then share the most relevant information with their CGA colleagues and team officials," Ms Martin said.

GOLDOC CEO, Mark Peters said the team at GOLDOC has done a great job communicating with the CGA’s since we won the Games in 2011 and the excitement amongst the athletes and officials of the Commonwealth is a credit to GOLDOC’s staff and our partners.

"The face to face presentations and meetings during the Chef’s gathering will reinforce the confidence of all delegates that planning is well in hand to deliver a great Games in 2018."

Commonwealth Games Australia President Sam Coffa AM JP said he was delighted to welcome fellow Games family members from across the Commonwealth.

"I know the Chefs de Mission Seminar will be a very valuable experience for all and commend GOLDOC on their planning and organisation of the Games to date.

"I look forward to welcoming the athletes and the broader teams to what is shaping up to be a great Games on the Gold Coast in 2018," Mr Coffa said.

ENDS

For more information, please email media@goldoc.com or contact:

Tamara Morris: +61 400 658 429

Manager Communication and Media

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)

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