Australian delegation to present Queensland 2032 Games bid to the International Olympic Committee

The Federal Government has revealed that Australia’s Olympic Candidature Leadership Group will meet with the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) early next week to discuss Queensland’s potential candidature for the 2032 Olympics.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Federal MP Ted O’Brien - representing Prime Minister Scott Morrison - will meet with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach in the Swiss city of Lausanne to present what O’Brien says will be the "greatest pitch the Olympic Movement has ever seen" to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The delegation also includes Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President and IOC member John Coates along with South east Queensland Council of Mayors (SEQ) representative Mark Jamieson.

The meeting follows the first gathering of the candidature leadership group, which took place in Cairns last month, where the AOC expressed confidence in Brisbane and Queensland mounting a compelling case to host the 2032 Games.

Coates, who spearheaded significant recent changes to the bidding process for the Olympic Games, has been supporting the bid but has warned transport upgrades will be needed in the region in order for the candidature to be successful.

Subsequently, the Federal, Queensland and local Governments combined to contribute 10 million to a Games assessment taskforce that is looking at possible venues, transport infrastructure, the required funding and where it would come from.

The taskforce's work is expected to be finished by early next year and Queensland would then decide whether to launch a formal bid for the 2032 Games.

In a statement issued before heading to Switzerland, O’Brien said the group is adopting a ‘Team Australia’ approach in pursing the opportunity, advising “the Australian Government is delighted to take this important next step with the Queensland Government, the Australian Olympic Committee and the South East Queensland Council of Mayors to make a strong first impression in support of our candidature for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“A delegation of elected representatives from three tiers of government speaks volumes about our unity of purpose, and the fact we wear different political stripes just goes to show how serious we are about working together.

“This visit is an important opportunity for early engagement with the IOC. It isn’t about spruiking, it’s about listening. I want to ensure we’re gleaning every possible insight from the IOC so we can put together the greatest pitch the Olympic Movement has ever seen.”

Premier Palaszczuk was invited to the IOC headquarters by Bach when the two met during the SportAccord World Sport and Business Summit in Gold Coast in May.

At the time, Bach said he was impressed by the plans at the meeting and the IOC has been vocal with its support for the Queensland bid since.

In July, he stated that the "early commitment and the well-known enthusiasm of the Aussies for sport are a great foundation for the 2032 Olympic Games in Queensland".

The delegation will also meet with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee to understand how planning for the 2024 Games will deliver a legacy for France's capital.