Government backs Australian firms for London Olympics

Opportunities still exist for Australian firms wishing to provide products and services for the 2012 London Olympics, according to Trade Minister Simon Crean.

Minister Crean, who toured the London 2012 Olympic site on Monday, said Australian companies had already benefited from $200 million worth of infrastructure contracts and that should be on standby to take advantage of the next wave of London Olympic contracts.

Tenders for new contracts involving events management, ticketing, spectator services and security are due to be issued in the coming months.

Minister Crean said Australian companies had become experts in the Olympics since Sydney hosted the event in 2000, telling reporters "we have become the experts in the Olympics because we've understood that sport itself is an export.

"It's not just the performance on the field or in the competition but it's the industry that surrounds it.

"We are confident that more Australian opportunities will present themselves when it comes to what is broadly called the operational infrastructure, if you like: the security, the ticketing, events management.

"Those contracts are up for grabs and I urge all Australians who have skills in this field contact Austrade. Get involved because the opportunities are there."

Crean added that, having visited, it provided "a good example of the services trade from Australia to the UK", adding "Australia has really become the expert in the Olympics, because ww've understood that sport itself is an export ... it's not just the performance on the field or in the competition, but it's the industry that surrounds it; the building of the stadiums, the sports management, the events management, the ground-keeping, the sports medicine, the catering, and all the marketing that goes with it."

Australian companies who have achieved London 2012 deals include ExSport Management, Populous (the former HOK Sports Architecture), PTW Architects, Sinclair Knight Merz, Westfield, Lend Lease, and Hyder Consulting. Melbourne-based architecture firm Denton Corker Marshall have also secured a place on the approved architect's panel for the Olympic Village.

Canberra's ExSport Management. Brendan Lynch of Canberra-based ExSport Management previously managed the delivery of 60,000 volunteers for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. ExSport Management will provide advisory services to LOCOG on the Volunteer Program for both the London Olympics and Paralympics.

Austrade's London-based Senior Trade Commissioner Kylie Hargreaves explains that "the success of ExSport Management demonstrates the diverse range of opportunities available through the 2012 Games. Services in areas such as training and sports management, where Australia has a proven track record, are also in demand.

"Most of the current wins concern the design and construction of Olympic Park infrastructure and key venues and associated services such as transport strategies. The Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) is also engaged in the procurement process for all support requirements around primary structures, including the Olympic Village, International Media Centre, Main Stadium, Aquatic Centre, and many other key sites."

Austrade is encouraging inquiries from Australian companies interested in pursuing business opportunities surrounding the London 2012 Olympic Games.

For more information go to www.austrade.gov.au/London-2012-Olympic-and-Paralympic-Games/default.aspx