Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have started meeting to show a vision for future sponsorship, marketing, branding opportunities ahead of the 2032 Summer Olympiad.
2032 in Brisbane will mark the first year Australia has played the role of host country since Sydney in 2000 and prior to that at Melbourne in 1956.
The IOC’s board itself consists of 21 individuals including seasoned Olympic officials, elected government personnel, and former athletes. A few of its more esteemed members include Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck, and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Andrew Liveris, president of the organizing committee, opined it is never too early to start given many of the political hurdles and deal-by-deal negotiations that often need to be overcome to support a multi-billion project occurring only once every four years.
A 2021 estimate pegged the cost to run the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games to exceed $5 billion Australian dollars, or approximately $3.72 US dollars, between the infrastructure for the event and for transport. The federal government has shared it will cover 50% of the costs.
If executed successfully, the 2032 Olympics could be worth upwards of $17.6 billion though over a 20-year period, as well as generate more than 120,000 full-time jobs according to an analysis from the consulting & accounting firm KPMG in 2021.
The first goal is to appoint a CEO. From there a team will be assembled, a mission defined for the kinds of alliances and partnerships being looked for, and a strategy to connect with the right parties at each step along the way.
The expressed desire off the bat to not burden the Australian taxpayers and, effectively, be cost neutral – no small order – by setting up domestic and international partnerships for games matching or exceeding the sum of the IOC’s contribution.
Liveris’ past business prowess appeals immensely to the IOC. Liveris previously served as the Chairman & CEO of Dow Chemical Company for 14 years, molding it into its now present state as a leader in scientific innovation and life-changing solutions across the world. The man is also a staunch advocate for sustainability, diversity, equity, & inclusion. In 2014, Liveris became Officer of the Order of Australia focused on leading the charge with international businesses.
It is largely Liveris’s international connectivity and expertise talking with corporations that makes him so darn confident.
Other aspirational benefits of hosting the games as told by Liveris include boosting sports participation even for the disabled, inspiring younger athletes to assume competitive sport, and attracting some competing athletes to assume residency potentially even in the region much earlier than 2032.
Aside from Brisbane proper, Townsville, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast regions will supply venues too for both the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.