Sydney Olympics infrastructure specialists bound for Dubai

'With the Middle East hosting more and more world class sporting events, it is imperative the region creates venues and facilities to match,' said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director, dmg World Media Dubai Limited, organisers of Big 5.

'I have no doubt the regional industry will benefit from the experience and wisdom acquired by those who were responsible for the infrastructure of what has been lauded as the greatest Olympic Games ever.'

Organised by the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), the Federal Government agency tasked with aiding Australian companies to develop overseas business, along with the State offices of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and the Master Builders Association, the seminar will cover such topics as environmental management for world class sporting events, infrastructure development and construction methodologies in major sporting venues and facilities.

It will draw upon the extensive international experience of three speakers. Project Manager Bill Buckland of Multiplex, one of Australia's leading private construction and development companies, is a 35-year veteran in the design and construction of large-scale infrastructure projects. Appointed Design Manager on Stadium Australia, the Sydney 2000 Olympics' centre stage, he has since taken on the role of Project Manager - Design for the UK's Wembley and Chelsea stadia. Multiplex Australia' local entity, UAE-based Nasa Multiplex, has completed the Emirates Towers, The Tower and the 6 main towers at the Dubai Marina.

GHD, a global professional services consultancy specialising in management, engineering, the environment, planning and design, and the prime consultant for the Doha 2006 Asian Games, will provide two speakers.

David Churches, Technical Director Sports Events, Logistics and Support, a consultant providing specialist advice relating to the bidding for and the planning of major events. Churches has been involved right from the outset in Australia's bid for the Olympics as Deputy Director & Head of Planning - Sydney Olympics 1996 Bid Committee and then as Executive Manager, Planning and Design - Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Committee.

Churches then took on the role of Group Manager - Venues, for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, from 1993 -1997, where he was then appointed Senior Director, Games Planning, Olympic Coordination Authority. He has also consulted for the Athens 2004 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Doha 2006 Asian Games and the Beijing 2008 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Rounding off the speaker profile will be John Barrow, GHD's Team Project Manager. Barrow was the Project Director for the $400 million Homebush Bay Infrastructure Development, the main venue for the 2000 Olympics, comprising the sporting and recreational facilities. Barrows also has extensive experience on numerous large-scale infrastructure projects within the aviation, leisure and public works sectors.

'Using the Sydney games as a case study, the seminar programme has been created to highlight the challenges involved with the planning, development and running of world-class sporting events,' said Greg Coelho, Business Development Manager, Austrade. 'There will be particular emphasis on how the advances made and lessons learned can be applied here in the Middle East.

'It will cover a broad range of relevant topics such as master plan design, project management, Olympic planning, ceremonies, event and venues, infrastructure, the environment, facilities and services,' explained Coelho. 'This seminar is not just about stadia construction.'

According to Greg, several Sydney 2000 Olympics' contractors won awards for environmental initiatives and innovative designs and construction techniques. 'Numerous methodologies and techniques were employed to make the Sydney Games 'green',' said Coelho.

'Water reclamation systems installed for the Olympics save 850 million litres per year,' he explained. 'The 2000 Olympics' centre stage, Stadium Australia, achieved sustainable standards far above conventional stadia, resulting in 30% reduction in energy, 37% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 77% of water used is either recycled or collected on site.'

Stadium Australia, the largest ever stadium for an Olympics, won the engineering world construction award in the United Kingdom in 1999.

Taking place at Big 5, the seminar will be held on Sunday, October 27th, 2002 in Seminar Room A (First Floor), Hall 3 of DIEC. The seminar itself starts at 19.30 followed by a reception at 20.30.

Australia will also field a national stand comprising 25 companies in Halls 6 and 7.