Key nominees for Olympic Board

Premier and Minister for the Olympics, Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced key nominees to the board organising Queensland’s 2032 OIympic and Paralympic Games.

Olympians Natalie Cook and Patrick Johnson will join the Premier and Deputy Premier on the board.

The Premier said planning for the Games could not be in better hands than Olympians who are Queenslanders to the core.

“Nat is from Townsville and Patrick was actually born on a speedboat on the way to the maternity ward in Cairns,” the Premier said.

“I have said from the start that I want all of Queensland to share in the pride of hosting our own Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Nat and Patrick have regional Queensland in their DNA.

“They are also world class athletes.

“The first job of an Olympics is to give the athletes a stage where they can perform at their best which makes Nat and Patrick’s input so important.”

Natalie Cook and her partner Kerri Pottharst won bronze in in beach volleyball at the Atlanta Olympics and gold in Sydney in 2000.

Patrick Johnson grew up on his father’s fishing trawler and didn’t start running until his 20s. He is the current Oceania and Australian record holder in the 100m with a time of 9.93 sec – the first person of non-African heritage to break the 10 second barrier.

Both are charged with ensuring ALL of Queensland shares in the pride of the 2032 Games.

“The Olympics changes people’s lives,” Nat said.

“Soon, we will go out into the regions identifying the 10, 11 and 12 year olds who will compete in 2032 as part of our You-for-2032 campaign.

“I know the power of sport to inspire and uplift.

“That’s especially true of these games because they are so close to home.”

Patrick, the proud son of a Kaanju mother, has his sights set on spreading the Olympic spirit in Queensland’s remote indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“The Olympic motto is faster, higher, stronger, together,” Patrick said.

“The most important word is ‘together’.

“The Olympics and Paralympics have always been about promoting peace and togetherness through sport.

“I’m looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the Queensland version of this amazing event.”

Stirling Hinchliffe, Minister for Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Sport Engagement will chair the powerful Legacy Committee.

It includes 12 people from across Queensland looking at the long term benefits of the Games. 

The Premier’s announcement completes her nominees to the 22 member Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Board.

Five more independent directors, agreed to by the Premier and Prime Minister, derived from an international search will be announced soon. 

It is anticipated all board nominees will go before Cabinet next Monday.