Olympic 2032 chiefs throw open billions for business
The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been declared open for business as organizers opened the first of hundreds of procurement contracts worth billions of dollars.
More than 50 opportunities have been identified as Olympic boss Andrew Liveris launched the first tranche of its acquisition program on Wednesday.
Games Minister Tim Mander has called on small and medium-sized businesses to throw their hat in the ring.
“Overall we have seen great sporting success in Brisbane and Queensland over the last few weeks and there is real excitement around that success,” he said.
“We now want our small (and) medium-sized businesses to experience this excitement, too.”
Contracts worth more than $2.5 billion are expected to be delivered by 2032.
Outside Wednesday’s media event, a small group of Save Victoria Park protesters waved banners after publishing a report This predicted that the 2032 main stadium was unlikely to be completed on time.
Victoria Park in Brisbane is set to be the centerpiece of the 2032 Games, with a $3.7 billion, 63,000-seat main stadium as well as a nearby national aquatic centre.
“The state government wants us to believe that the plan to demolish Victoria Park for two Olympic stadiums and a warming track is inevitable; it is not,” said Sue Bremner of Save Victoria Park.
“We can say this in the strongest possible way to companies that want to get involved in this disruptive project: Think again.
“This is a high-risk proposition on many levels. Not only is it fraught with practical and reputational risk, it also sets our city backwards, both in terms of valuing our environment and in terms of reconciliation with First Nations peoples.”
Ms Bremner said two legal submissions regarding the proposed Victoria Park stadium were being considered by the federal environment and water minister.
The applications were submitted under section 10 of the Commonwealth’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act “in an effort to protect one of Brisbane’s most significant First Nations cultural sites”.
Mr Mander said the group had the right to protest.
“We live in a democracy and it’s great that people can do that freely and safely and we respect their views, but we’re committed to Victoria Park,” he said.
An Indigenous advisory board was meeting, chaired by former Olympian Patrick Johnson, a Kaanju athlete and Australian 100m sprint record holder.
“We will be seeking their advice on a number of different issues related to the Games to ensure First Nations voices are heard,” Mr Mander said.
The previous requirement that at least one member of the board be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander was removed by legislation in July to “streamline” the decision-making process.
1,300 days after Brisbane hosts the Olympics, the clock is ticking on construction of the 2032 venue after Queensland’s Liberal National government finally unveiled its plan in March.
The state government backed the venue plan after it accelerated legislation to override 15 environmental and heritage laws to speed up construction by 2032.
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