Aussie exporters already winning gold at London 2012 Olympics

Austrade’s London-based Senior Trade Commissioner Kylie Hargreaves said for some Australian companies the 2012 Olympic race has already been run and won, with over a dozen Australian businesses securing lucrative deals.

“We’ve seen strong early results from Australia’s leading infrastructure companies, architects and security specialists, which prepares the ground nicely for other Australian firms looking to follow suit,” Kylie Hargreaves said.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) estimate that at least 50,000 individual contracts – and possibly as many as 75,000 – will be entered into to stage the event.

“The international reputation in staging and managing sporting events Australia achieved through the globally acknowledged success of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup 2003, places Australian businesses in good stead to continue securing deals. This can only be helped by Australia’s contribution to high profile Beijing 2008 Olympics projects,” Hargreaves said.

One example is Canberra’s ExSport Management. Brendan Lynch of ExSport Management previously managed the delivery of 60,000 volunteers for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. ExSport Management will provide advisory services to LOCOG on the Volunteer Program for both the London Olympics and Paralympics.

“The success of ExSport Management demonstrates the diverse range of opportunities available through the 2012 Games. Services in areas such as training and sports management, where Australia has a proven track record, are also in demand,” Hargreaves said.

Australian companies who have also achieved London 2012 deals include HOK Sports Architecture, PTW Architects, Sinclair Knight Merz, Westfield, Lend Lease, and Hyder Consulting. Melbourne-based architecture firm Denton Corker Marshall have also secured a place on the approved architect’s panel for the Olympic Village.

“Most of the current wins concern the design and construction of Olympic Park infrastructure and key venues and associated services such as transport strategies. The Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) is also engaged in the procurement process for all support requirements around primary structures, including the Olympic Village, International Media Centre, Main Stadium, Aquatic Centre, and many other key sites,” Hargreaves said.

“While the procurement process is governed by European regulations and can be rigorous, Austrade can help Australian companies better understand the decision-making architecture underpinning the logistical delivery of the Games, and connect them to Olympic business networks and key contacts within LOCOG and the ODA,” Hargreaves said.

“We expect Australian companies will be in an even better position to secure London 2012 opportunities following the official post-Beijing handover, when preparations for the Games and associated ceremonies start to ramp up, including events such as the torch relay.

Britain has also stated its intention to enhance its Olympic team’s performance through improved athlete training and services. There will also be opportunities throughout the UK as different regions bid to host training camps for visiting country teams,” Hargreaves said.

“The Government is also hoping to achieve a lasting legacy as a result of their investment in 2012, in areas such as effective carbon emission management and the use of sustainable technologies, as well school sports programmes to counter childhood obesity.

The London 2012 games will provide an opportunity to form alliances with UK and European partners, allowing consortia to bid for future northern hemisphere projects, such as the Euro 2012 football tournament in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012, and the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 in Russia,” Hargreaves said.

Austrade’s London-based Senior Business Development Manager responsible for Olympic Games activity Colin Biggs, said companies seeking opportunities with the London Olympics should first start with the official website www.london2012.com.

“The site can provide Australian companies with an initial sense of where their strengths can connect with listed opportunities. It also includes a portal where suppliers can register their profile for business matching,” Biggs said.

“Beyond that, Austrade is in regular contact with key players to get more specific business intelligence on timeframes, issues, and areas where Australian capability can make a contribution, including insights into how supply chains operate,” he said.  

Austrade is encouraging inquiries from Australian companies interested in pursuing business opportunities surrounding the London 2012 Olympic Games.