Australian sports expertise looked upon by Qatar
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In an effort to enhance its sporting facilities, at a recent event in London, showing how Australian businesses can continue to assist Qatar and other nations with Major Sporting Events (MSEs), HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, secretary general Qatar Olympic Committee, was among the international guests of Australian High Commissioner to the UK, HE John Dauth AO LVO and Australia’s Sports Minister, Kate Lundy.
Since Sydney 2000, Australia has been the go-to nation for those bidding for and hosting MSEs. It is a title the country is keen to retain as others enter the race in an industry set to top US$145.3 billion by 2015, with growth forecast at 3.7%.
The high-level reception at the Australian High Commission marked the start of a global campaign showcasing the country’s unrivalled experience to representatives of countries like Qatar who are bidding for or hosting MSEs over the next decade.
CEO of the Australian Trade Commission, Peter Grey, said: “Australia has long demonstrated world-leading expertise across a range of sectors and in all four key stages of the 10-year MSE life-cycle: Bid; Build; Implement; and Legacy. Now we’re pooling our know-how and in-market capability to give event organisers and host governments everything they need to create the next generation of premier major sporting events.”
Over the past 12 years those behind the success of the ‘Millennium Games’ have lent their creativity, innovation and technical expertise to every subsequent Olympics, along with other MSEs including FIFA and Rugby World Cups, and Commonwealth, Pan Am and Asian Games.
The centrepiece of the opening ceremony in London, the Olympic Stadium itself, is among a growing list of Australia’s MSE credentials which also features the Athletes’ Village and mobilisation of some 70,000 volunteer ‘Games Makers’ in the UK Capital.