AOC sets up Olympic preparation hub in Circular Quay

AOC: With the start of the new Olympic cycle underway, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has today officially opened its new office in Sydney’s Circular Quay.

Wednesday 6th March also marks the conclusion of the 59th Meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Executive Council which was held in Sydney, and many ANOC and International Olympic Committee (IOC) members were present at the official AOC office opening.

The AOC has jumped at the opportunity to house all staff in one office in the southern end of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Previously the AOC has been located in two buildings on opposite sides of the Harbour Bridge. The New South Wales Olympic Council is now also located under the same roof.

"For the past 20 years the AOC has operated out of two offices so when the opportunity arose only last November to move, we seized it and we are very pleased to be here," AOC President John Coates said.

"The smaller city office location was critical when bidding for and hosting the 2000 Games while the majority of AOC staff has been outside the CBD. When that lease was up we knew it was really important to bring the two offices together for greater synergies and efficiencies."

The superb facilities at the MCA including a large theatre, boardrooms with video conferencing and the beautiful Foundation Hall means all Press Conferences, Olympic Team Preparation Meetings, Athletes’ Commission Sessions, Sponsor Workshops and the AOC Annual General Meeting - with over 100 representatives from all winter and summer sports - can all be held under the same roof.

"The fantastic amenities mean we can do all of this with only 650 square metres of office space. It is a very good deal," Coates said.

The AOC was fortunate to have financial assistance for the fit-out in the form of contributions from the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity while the NSW Government contributed for the NSW Olympic Council share.

President of ANOC and Olympic Solidarity, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Saba and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell were on hand to speak and be thanked by Coates and AOC staff.

Key features of the new office include a video wall from Olympic Partner Panasonic to showcase Australia’s Olympic history and the programs of the AOC. The reception and main hallway are adorned with canvas prints of inspiring images by Supplier Getty Images. Cathy Freeman lighting the 2000 cauldron features in reception and the six large images in the corridor depict the Australian Olympic Team A.S.P.I.R.E. values.

As soon as next week there will be a High Performance Meeting for Rio 2016 held in Sydney and Team Processing sessions for Sochi 2014 Winter Athletes and the AOC AGM are scheduled for the start of May.

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