AGY-1990 | Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Limited

Full description

In 1991 the New South Wales Government resolved to enter the contest to host the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Limited was formed to prepare the bid. The Articles of Association nominate the Premier as President of the Company whose role included the Chairmanship of the Board. The Board consisted of between three and 15 directors. The Chief Executive was appointed by the Chairman. Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Limited applied for registration as a public company and received certification on 19 June 1991. Mr R.H. McGeoch was the Chief Executive Officer from 31 July 1991 until 8 December 1995 and the secretary was R.A. Prater. The directors represented the New South Wales Government, the Council of the City of Sydney and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and included P.W. Coles, D.B. McDonald, F.E. Sartor (Lord Mayor of Sydney), G.C.E. Wild, D.W. Smithers, B. Baird, J.D. Coates, J.T. Devitt, A.E. Harris, G.G. Lovett, J.G. Valder, and N.F.H. Greiner. A number of staff were seconded from the Premier’s Department to assist the company. (1) The main functions of the company were to a) prepare the bid and b) to promote Sydney as the preferred location for the Olympic Games. The Company prepared a Strategy plan in September 1991 to assist in the accomplishment of its objectives. The plan demonstrated Sydney’s ability to host the Games based on its commitment to Olympism, and a marketing strategy which would assist in winning the Games. (2) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) set guidelines for the preparation of bids in February 1992 prescribing the limits which a bidding country should not exceed in order to secure their votes. The guidelines were, however, not comprehensive and the Committee did not enforce adherence to these guidelines. (3) Sydney was formerly registered as a bidding City in April 1992 (4) and the company was represented at the Winter Olympic Games in Albertville and the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, in 1992, sundry meetings of the ‘Olympic Family’ and other international promotional visits. Its work culminated with the IOC vote on the bidding cities in Monte Carlo 0n 23 September 1993 at which the games were awarded to Sydney. (5) In mid 1993 the structure of the company consisted of the President, four vice presidents and 11 directors. In addition to the Chief Executive there was a General Manager. Five Commissions subordinate to the board dealt with Sports, Finance, Communications, Culture, and Buildings. The operational branches were planning and design, finance, communications, bid operations and bid relations. The functions Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Committee were officially completed in September 1993. The Australian Securities Commission was advised of a resolution winding up the company and of the appointment of a liquidator on 29 March 1994. (6) The liquidator’s final account was effective from 19 July 1996. (7) The Company operated from premises in The Maritime Centre, 207 Kent Street, Sydney FOOTNOTES: (1) Report of the Premier’s for the year ended 30 June, 1992 p. 32 (2). Ibid. Background. 3.4 The Bid Strategy pp 8-9 (3) Ibid. 1. Executive Summary p. 1 (4) Ibid. Background. 3.4 The Bid Strategy p. 8 (5) Ibid. Background p. 9 (6) Australian Securities Commission. Historical Search. Organisation no 052124151 (7) Ibid.