Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris calls for Games building to begin

Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics President Andrew Liveris has called for political unity in backing the soon-to-be-released findings of the Queensland Government’s review into venue infrastructure for the Games - and to then get building.

As reported today by Brisbane’s The Courier-Mail, Liveris, President of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Organising Committee, said he held concerns over lost time in planning and constructing Games infrastructure and with a week to go until the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk delivers his venue recommendations, it was “time to move forward as one”.

Liveris told The Courier-Mail “I hope we can have universal alignment from all levels of government and both sides of the aisle on the need to move quickly to implementation.

“We remain concerned with the reduced timelines for venue and infrastructure delivery.

“We have been fully supportive of the independent infrastructure review and the reasons for it taking place. Our focus has always been for the Games to fit the region, not the region fitting the Games.”

Liveris said the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, along with sporting organisations, professional leagues, business and community leaders, had fully co-operated with the review and presented to the review, adding “we reaffirmed that investment decisions should be made in the best interests of the growing population and aspirations of its community, not for the Games.

“We also stressed that any changes need to align with the Olympic Host Contract obligations and that post release of the recommendations it is imperative we finalise these changes with the international sport federations, the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee.

“The Games will be the biggest event in Queensland’s history, delivering significant economic and social impacts and benefits across communities. We look forward to continuing our work with all delivery partners to ensure that the Games are a moment we can all be proud of.”

There is a reported expectation that Quirk - who played a key role in launching Brisbane’s plans to bid for the Olympics - will recommend more than a cut-price Games.

Committee for Brisbane President Kristan Conlon said it was crucial Quirk’s recommendations for venue plans remained “ambitious”.

Conlon advised “we want to see something that we can be proud of and that will leave a real legacy for Brisbane - a city which is growing fast.

“Something like the Brisbane Bold plan is an example of something really cool and ambitious.

“Let’s also not waste our opportunity to get our share of the Federal (Government) money that we were promised.”

New Venues at Victoria Park
Submissions to the review in recent weeks have seen considerable support for a new 50,000 seat stadium and standalone aquatic facility on the site of the former golf course at Victoria Park in central Brisbane and the Gabba being redeveloped as an 18,000-seat boutique venue.

For aquatic competition at the Games the Queensland Government has previously favoured using the existing Sleeman Sports Centre and a temporary pool in an indoor arena.

However, Swimming Australia and its supporters have been lobbying for a standalone new aquatic facility.

Images: Concept for a new Brisbane Aquatic Centre (top) and Andrew Liveris, President of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Organising Committee (below, credit: Shutterstock).