Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Events and Attractions

Aussie Organizers Demand 2018 Gold Coast Games Ceremonies Review

An alliance of Australian events organizers, including Olympics expert Ric Birch, has demanded the Queensland government "re-examine the bidding process" that led to a U.S.-based company "beating experienced local bidders" to organize the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, according to Mark Schliebs of THE AUSTRALIAN. The losing bidders have written to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to "express concern about the Christmas Eve decision to award the contract to Jack Morton Worldwide" and raise allegations of a "potential conflict of interest they believe should be ­investigated." The group of Australians, which includes experienced ­organizers Michel Cassel, David Atkins and Julie Brooks, claimed no senior officials from the Gold Coast Organising Committee "attended interviews to examine each bid and the evaluation lacked ­people with experience" in major int'l events. The group said in a letter, "When there is so much Australian talent, experience and international success in this field, it is incomprehensible that Queensland should be overlooking our own talent in favour of hiring a foreign company to stage what will arguably be the most important major public event in Australia this decade." The group has also alleged that there had been a "potential for conflict of interest" in the appointment of a former JMW employee, who they say advised the tender evaluation panel and who they claim "has been appointed to a new ­position within GOLDOC" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/28). The AAP reported the Liberal National Party said it was a "slap in the face" for local companies who are "better placed to tell a Gold Coast and Australian story on a world stage." Opposition spokesperson Ian Walker said, "We know there's some home-grown Queensland and Australian companies who could do this job standing on their head." The Games organizers on Sunday defended the decision, "which was set to be announced next month." GOLDOC Head of Communications Marcus Taylor "stressed no teams bid from within Queensland and all the short-listed companies were Australian based." Taylor said that while JMW is an int'l company, the winning bid came from its Australian affiliate which has been "based down under" since '83 (AAP, 12/27).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/12/28/Events-and-Attractions/Gold-Coast-Games.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/12/28/Events-and-Attractions/Gold-Coast-Games.aspx

CLOSE