Business

‘There’s no apology’: Brisbane 2032 boss defends $250 procurement charge

By Cameron Atfield

Copyright theage

‘There’s no apology’: Brisbane 2032 boss defends $250 procurement charge

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris has defended charging businesses $250 a head to attend the launch of the Olympic and Paralympic procurement program, saying the Games organising committee was unapologetically in the business of raising revenue.

Speaking at a Queensland University of Technology business leaders’ forum in Brisbane on Thursday, Liveris said it was appropriate for the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games to use the event as a fundraising opportunity.

Joining Liveris at the paid event at the Star next Wednesday will be Brisbane 2032 chief executive Cindy Hook, Paris 2024 Organising Committee chief finance and human resources officer Fabrice Lacroix and Queensland Sports Minister Tim Mander to open up the first tranche of opportunities for immediate expressions of interest.

Liveris said, unlike government-funded vital infrastructure delivery, the event itself was privately funded through sponsorship and other fundraising.