Australian Olympic Committee welcomes release of Elevate 2042 strategy

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has welcomed the release last week of the Elevate 2042 strategy - a strategy supported by the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee and Brisbane 2032 Presidents and designed to ensure Queensland, Australia and the Oceania region make the most of hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The strategy is the culmination of a yearlong process of community and stakeholder consultation identifying what benefits Australians want to see flow from hosting the Games.

AOC President Ian Chesterman says sport has emerged as the central ambition for Australians.

Chesterman noted “The greatest legacy to flow from hosting the Olympics is a thriving sports system.

“That was a resounding message from the community through the surveys and forums in this process. Growing participation, nurturing coaches, encouraging volunteers and administrators as well as creating more sport services experts.

“These are critical outcomes that allows sport to contribute more broadly to a happier and healthier Queensland, Australia and our friends across Oceania.”

Chesterman paid tribute to the cooperative approach of the Games Delivery Partners which includes three levels of government, the Organising Committee for Brisbane 2032, the AOC and Paralympics Australia working together to produce the strategy.

“You don’t get good outcomes unless you work together with a collective commitment to achieve the best result for the community. That has been outstanding.

“Legacy starts now, then into the Games themselves and for a decade beyond the Games.

“The four key legacy areas identified in this strategy are all critical and sport has a role to play in achieving each goal - and sport will also benefit from that achievement.

The four areas are:

• Sport, health and inclusion

• Connecting people and place

• A better future for our environment

• Economy of the future

The next step involves the development of an Implementation Plan during 2024 that will drive legacy outcomes over the first phase – the five years into 2029.

The AOC has appointed James Edwards, AOC Chief of Community Engagement as its representative on the implementation planning group undertaking the work on behalf of the Games Delivery Partners.

Chesterman said the AOC is committed to ensuring the greatest impact from hosting these Games adding “We have 46 Olympic sports which offer something for everyone. More than nine million participants and an army of volunteers and supporters. To have the opportunity to build on this and to make a long lasting contribution is such an exciting prospect.

“Now we have the strategy agreed upon, we can keep working together to realise the benefits.”

Image top: Australian Olympian Beki Smith