Is this an unsuspected effect of the health crisis? More than a decade before the deadline, the IOC seems to want to deal with the Brisbane 2032 file without letting time slow down. On the double. Chosen during the Tokyo session last July, the Australian city already knows the names of the members of the commission called to inspect its preparation over the next eleven years.
The IOC announced Thursday October 7 via a press release: the coordination commission for the Brisbane 2032 Games will be chaired by former Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry. At 38, the double Olympic champion in the 200m backstroke (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) confirms her growing influence within the Olympic body.
Elected by her peers at the London 2012 Games to sit on the Athletes' Commission, Kirsty Coventry took over as president in 2018. As such, she joined the executive commission. She should have abandoned her place as a member of the Olympic body on the evening of the Tokyo 2020 Games, like the other athletes elected at London 2012 (including Frenchman Tony Estanguet, president of the COJO Paris 2024). But the IOC session in Tokyo approved the change in its status. She therefore became an individual member, without time limit.
Here she is now at the head of the coordination commission for the Brisbane Games in 2032. The position is important. For the Paris 2024 Games, the IOC had chosen the Belgian Pierre-Olivier Beckers. For Los Angeles 2028, the role went to another former swimmer, but from artistic swimming, Nicole Hoevertsz.
The IOC points out this with pride: two thirds of the members of the Brisbane 2032 coordination commission are women. Topping the list is Kirsty Coventry. One rank below, as vice-president, the American Anita DeFrantz.
For the rest, a few members of the IOC, representatives of athletes, international federations, national Olympic committees and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). In addition to the president and vice-president, the commission has two members from each continent.
Coincidence or not, the announcement of the composition of the coordination commission came a few hours after another announcement concerning Brisbane 2032, more political but also very feminist. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured above) has appointed herself as Olympics Minister. Here too, quickly done well.
The Australian leader revealed this on social networks. She added to her announcement the names of the three other nominees of the day, expected to occupy some of the major roles in the preparation of the Brisbane 2032 Games.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles will assist Annastacia Palaszczuk with all matters relating to Olympic infrastructure. The Minister for Sport and Tourism, Stirling Hinchliffe, will be in charge of sport and engagement. Finally, State Treasurer Cameron Dick will oversee business and investment aspects.
Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed her casting on Twitter, via a video where the four new ministers for the 2032 Games are sworn in.
« Hosting the 2032 Games will generate $8 billion (US$5,8 billion) economic and social benefits, in addition to 91.600 jobs, assures the Prime Minister in her video message. This is the catalyst for the largest infrastructure program our state has ever seen, with all levels of government cooperating to deliver projects on time. »
Still according to Annastacia Palaszczuk, the legislation relating to the creation of the organizing committee is currently in the study phase. It could be presented before the end of October to Parliament. No time to waste.
The composition of the coordination commission for the Brisbane 2032 Games:
Chair: Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe).
Vice-president: Anita DeFrantz (United States)
Members: Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud (Saudi Arabia), Dagmawit Girmay Berhane (Ethiopia), William Frederick Blick (Uganda), Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski (Philippines), Andrew Parsons (Brazil), Federica Pellegrini (Italy), Camilo Perez Lopez Moreira (Paraguay), Auvita Rappila (Papua New Guinea), Jean-Christophe Rolland (France), Baklai Temengil (Palau).
