The Games will go back to Australia 32 years after the popular 2000 Sydney Olympics. Melbourne hosted in 1956.

“We know what it takes to deliver a successful Games in Australia,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told International Olympic Committee members in an 11-minute live video link from his office.

When the award was later confirmed, with Brisbane winning the vote 72-5, Morrison raised both arms in the air and gave two thumbs up.

The victory led to a fireworks display in Brisbane that was broadcast to IOC members in their five-star hotel in Tokyo.

Brisbane follows 2028 host Los Angeles in getting 11 years to prepare for hosting the Games. Paris will host in 2024.

The 2032 deal looked done months before the formal decision at the IOC meeting, which was held ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games.

The IOC gave Brisbane exclusive negotiating rights in February. That decision left Olympic officials in Qatar, Hungary and Germany looking blindsided with their own stalled bidding plans.

Though the result was expected, a high-level Australian delegation went to Tokyo amid the COVID-19 pandemic to present speeches, films and promises on stage.

The city of Brisbane sent Mayor Adrian Schrinner, the state of Queensland sent Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Australia’s federal government sent sports minister Richard Colbeck to woo Olympic voters.

They were joined by long-time Australian Olympic official John Coates, now an IOC vice president who shaped the fast-track selection process two years ago that now rewarded his Brisbane bid.

The first-time format was designed to cut campaign costs, give the IOC more control in dealing discreetly with preferred candidates and removed the risk of vote-buying.

The project was described by the IOC as “a passion-driven, athlete-centric offer from a sports-loving nation.” Events will be staged across Queensland, including in Gold Coast, which hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Brisbane’s renowned cricket stadium, known as the Gabba, will be upgraded and may host the sport at the Games. Cricket was played once at the Olympics, at the 1900 Paris Games.

The next three Summer Games hosts — starting with Paris in 2024 — are now secured in wealthy and traditional Olympic nations without any of the trio facing a contested vote.

The IOC and its hands-on president, Thomas Bach, have torn up the template of traditional bidding campaigns and hosting votes to lock down preferred cities with the minimum risk.

Paris and LA were competing for 2024 until Bach and Coates oversaw including the 2028 rights in an unprecedented double award four years ago.

The future hosts offer stability for the IOC which was stung by the two previous Summer Games contests being tainted by allegations of vote-buying when multiple cities were on the ballot.

The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics are still under investigation by French prosecutors. They have implicated officials who then lost their place in the IOC family as active or honorary members.

A low-risk future beckons for the IOC following the often-troubled Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games in February, which will throw scrutiny on China’s human rights record.

Key partners have also been secured through 2032. The IOC’s signature broadcasting deal with NBC and top-tier sponsors Coca-Cola, Visa and Omega are tied down for the decade ahead.

With only major cities staging the Summer Games from Beijing in 2008 through Los Angeles, Brisbane positioned itself as a new kind of project.

“We want to show the world that mid-sized cities and regions can host the Games without financial distress or missed deadlines,” Palaszczuk told voters.

Brisbane said it already has 84% of stadiums and event venues in place to fit the IOC’s modern demand of avoiding excessive spending and potential white-elephant projects.

A new swimming arena is planned and billions of dollars will be spent on transport projects — not because of the Olympics but in time for them, Brisbane officials said.

The new postal address for the IOC, officialised by the city of Lausanne, is as follows:

International Olympic Committee, Maison Olympique, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland.

It replaces the previous address, Château de Vidy, where 12 IOC employees first arrived in 1968. The Château, a part of Olympic House, is still in operation today and provides meeting rooms and office space for the members of the Olympic Movement.

In June 2019, the inauguration of Olympic House marked the 125th anniversary of the IOC, which was founded on 23 June 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin. On this occasion, IOC President Thomas Bach described Olympic House as “the home of the entire Olympic Movement”.

President Bach said: “When we set out on this project to construct a new home, we wanted it to be more than just another office building. We wanted to bring together everyone, the Olympic family and all IOC staff, under one roof. In this sense, Olympic House is an expression of our unity.” Today he adds: “I am pleased that this is now reflected in our official address and would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the city of Lausanne for making it happen.”

Olympic House is a testament to sustainability. It is the first building to receive three of the most rigorous sustainable building certifications (LEED v4 Platinum, Swiss Sustainable Construction Standard Platinum and Swiss standard for energy-efficient buildings, Minergie P.), making it one of the most sustainable buildings in the world.

The new headquarters allowed the IOC to bring together its staff – 500 employees previously spread across Lausanne in four locations – under one roof at a single site.

The IOC currently benefits from two Olympic centres in Lausanne: Olympic House in Vidy, to cater for its administration and offer a welcoming meeting place for IOC Members and the entire Olympic Movement; and The Olympic Museum and the Olympic Studies Centre in Ouchy, dedicated to general public activities.

The IOC headquarters have been in the Olympic Capital, on the shores of Lake Geneva, since 1915. It was Pierre de Coubertin who chose this city, explaining later that not only did he see Lausanne as an ideal location for the administrative headquarters, but also that in the midst of the First World War the city could offer the stability that had become essential for Olympism.

First of all, I hope that this letter finds you and your families in good health and good spirits.

Ever since our historic decision to postpone the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 because of the global coronavirus pandemic, the International Olympic Committee together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has been working relentlessly on organising these first-ever postponed Games in history. While this task represents a big challenge, together with all our Japanese partners and friends, we are determined to make these Games a beacon of hope for all humankind to overcome this pandemic. In this way, the Olympic flame can be the light at the end of the dark tunnel that we all find ourselves in.

In order to promote this Olympic spirit of hope and optimism already now in all countries around the world, it is my great pleasure to invite you join the One Year To Go celebrations ahead of the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

On 23 July 2020, let us join together to use the power of sport to look ahead with confidence to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as a moment of solidarity and proof of the resilience of humankind.

As you and your athletes continue in preparing for these Olympic Games, I can only encourage you to put your best foot forward. Athletes are fantastic role models for society as they continue to inspire us all through their actions and resilience. Despite all the challenges, athletes are training and preparing to perform at their best at the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. In our unprecedented times, these Games will take on an even greater significance as a celebration of diversity, inclusion and of the athletes’ sporting achievements.

The official invitations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 that you have received before the postponement remain valid for the new dates next year. Your ongoing commitment in making athletes’ Olympic dreams come true is essential at this time and in the months that lie ahead.

The Olympic Games are not only the greatest sporting event in the world. In these unprecedented times we are living in, the Olympic Games will be a symbol of hope and inspiration for the entire world. Together with our Japanese partners and friends we will make the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 an unforgettable celebration of all humankind, united in all our diversity.

In the meantime, please #StayStrong #StayActive #StayHealthy.

Reference is made in this communication to a number of the more salient and direct changes that would impact the athletes, coaches/trainers and other athlete support staff, Member National Federations (NFs) and the leadership of the SKNOC relative to preparation and participation in the XXXII edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

a) it is now official, the IOC has agreed to the POSTPONEMENT of the Games originally scheduled to run from July 24 to August 9, 2020.

b) the Games will still be held in Tokyo, Japan, but now scheduled for after the year 2020 but “must be held by the Summer of 2021”.

c) the Olympic Flame which has already arrived in Tokyo will not be extinguished and the Games will still be known as the 2020 Olympic Games and so branded, even though they will now take place in 2021.

d) some 53 per cent of athletes from 206 countries across 5 continents have already qualified to participate in the 2020 Games which involve 33 sports.

i. there is an expressed viewpoint that these 53 per cent of athletes should not lose their “qualifying status”, that is, they should be automatically qualified. Clarity on this matter is expected from the IOC and/or the respective International Federations (IFs).

ii. we also await clarity and guidance on the adjustments and decisions (per sport/ discipline) that would be made to allow for future qualification opportunities and respective deadlines. You will recall that the uncertainties and challenges presented by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) severely disrupted qualification schedules and opportunities.

iii. athletes still seeking qualification would be taken into consideration when determining future qualification deadlines.

e) no individual athlete or team from St. Kitts and Nevis has yet qualified for the Tokyo Games (as of March 25th 2020).

f) a number of individuals is currently actively seeking qualification. The SKNOC provides regular support to these individuals in the form of financial scholarships.

g) These individual athletes currently on scholarship will continue to be provided with financial assistance for that purpose as per the availability and access to such funding from the SKNOC partners. This is in light of the extended period for preparation as a result of the postponement to 2021.

h) However, this financial support, now suspended, will not recommence until the all clear to resume preparation/training is received from the appropriate health authorities.

i) There is reason for optimism that additional funding specifically for the scholarship athletes would be forthcoming from IOC/Olympic Solidarity and Panamsports but no formal word has yet been had and there is no indication as how much.

j) From an SKNOC standpoint, however, continuity on the scholarship and any other funding programmes will not be automatic. Athletes will have to demonstrate evidence of progress and advance towards the required levels of performance to inspire confidence in the likelihood of meeting the qualification levels or obtaining other established standards for participation.

k) The Games Preparation Committee has the responsibility and authority to monitor and recommend the continuity/exclusion of any athlete/team in the scholarship programme and/or to recommend an athlete for inclusion. The Executive, in turn, reserves the right to act on that recommendation. The final decision would always be determined by the availability and/or access to funds and the quantum per athlete/team by predetermined criteria.

l) Athletes based overseas are required to stay put, and strongly encouraged to strictly follow the instructions and guidelines established by the relevant health and government authorities in their respective jurisdictions. The SKNOC is not approving payment for travel to St. Kitts and Nevis or anywhere else at this moment. When it becomes appropriate and feasible so to do, the athletes concerned would be contacted.

m) Similarly, athletes based in St. Kitts and Nevis will not receive approved funding for travel until national and other relevant health authorities give the green light so to do and the SKNOC endorses in writing.

n) All athletes are therefore requested to follow the safety and security protocols established by the government and health agencies in order to diminish and eliminate any contamination by the Coronavirus.

o) developments continue to evolve moment by moment in regard to the elusive and highly dangerous Coronavirus. On Monday 23rd March, the SKNOC was a participant in a video conference summoned by the IOC. The outcome of that video conference was summarily made public following that video conference.

p) On Tuesday 24th March there was video conference held by the Panamsports Executive in which President Bridgewater participated. A summary of this video conference was made available to athletes, Member Federations and the SKNOC Executive.

By the following day, the Panamsports Secretariat published its own media release outlining what took place for the consumption of its constituent membership and the international public.

q) In very quick succession, the IOC was back in the media, this time informing all concerned that the decision had been taken to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to 2021. Quite a cascade of events over a 24 to 72-hour period.

r) The SKNOC is in full concert with the Panamsports to provide unequivocal support to the IOC’s decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

s) At this very moment, the SKNOC is receiving word of yet another video conference to be convened by the IOC on Friday 27th March, 2020 – further evidence of the critical focus the issue occupies in the consciousness of all concerned at this time.

t) The SKNOC remains committed to the safety and security of the athletes and the supporting team as the priority in all deliberations and decisions taken concerning the ongoing challenges posed by the Coronavirus in relation to the organization, preparation and participation in the XXXII edition of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

u) It is against this backdrop that the SKNOC will continue to monitor the unfolding developments, keeping watch with eagle eyes; heed the recommendations and advice of the relevant and pertinent government, and health experts and authorities and make smart decisions going forward.

At that point, the SKNOC/CGA took the position to be guided, in its response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), by the combined information, instruction, advice and recommendations emerging from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and local Government and Ministry of Heath Authorities.

Those Agencies, Bodies and Authorities continue to be the principal sources of advice, instruction and guidance that inform the SKNOC’s/CGA’s efforts to act responsibly, in the protection and safeguard of the health and wellness of its constituents (athletes, their support staff, administrative staff, officers and their family), in the wake of the challenges of the Coronavirus, described as a pandemic by the WHO.

Consequently, all athletes, coaches, trainers and other athlete-related support staff, SKNOC/CGA Executive and other leadership, plus Administrative Staff, Member Federations and the persons directly or indirectly related to SKNOC/CGA sponsored, affiliated or supported events, activities, camps, etc., are to be guided and impacted by the decisions and positions outlined below:

• With respect to the status of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games scheduled for July 24 through to August 9:
  • the SKNOC/CGA accepts the position of the IOC who indicates that the Games are indeed still on as scheduled.
  • athletes are encouraged to continue vigorous preparation in safe environments. where opportunities for qualification purposes have been negatively impacted as a result of the Coronavirus, the IOC and its respective partners at the Continental level, the level of the International Federations (IFs), will seek to intervene to make adjustments in as fair, just and equitable a manner possible.

In short, athletes are strongly encouraged to prepare assiduously for their respective qualification and participation in Tokyo taking into consideration the latest information and guidance from their various IFs and other ruling and/or national bodies.

• In light of the most recent developments concerning the ongoing challenges posed by the Coronavirus, including but not limited to, the international postponement and cancelation of training camps, qualification events, the cancelations of activities that attract spectators – in some instances, of as little as 250 persons; the cancellation and/or reduction of available air travel to and from actual and proposed venues for events, the record of actual cases of Coronavirus in growing numbers of countries, cities, towns, villages and communities (our own Caribbean area not to be outdone – has accounted for actual cases in some 19-20 Caribbean countries to date – the SKNOC/CGA:
  • has withdrawn all previous approval to travel to participate in any event as a representative of or with the support of the SKNOC/CGA. This action stands until further notice and the SKNOC/CGA, via official communication from the office of the President so advises.
  • This decision is equally attributable, but not limited to, participation in competitions, events, qualifiers, scholarship-related travel, attendance at seminars, workshops, conventions etc. Further, the decision is equally attributable to athletes as well as their support team, plus to Executive and other members of the SKNOC/CGA.
• The SKNOC/CGA commits to the constant review of its position and resolves to always put primary emphasis on the health, well being, safety and security of its athletes, supporting staff and its constituents.
• The SKNOC recommits to collaborating with the expert, knowledgeable, technical, human and other resources made available to it by the IOC, the WHO, National Government and Health Ministry to inform future actions in the immediate, short and long term.
• To this end, an updated statement is to be expected by April 30th, 2020.

This bi-annual forum brings together a wide range of ‘athletes from across the Olympic Movement and provides an in-person community where athletes can exchange and discuss their viewpoints’. In keeping with the Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC has taken significant measures to strengthen support to athletes.

Ms Hodge is scheduled to leave the Federation on Friday 12th April, 2019.

In a statement following the recent announcement of the Federation’s participation in Rio 2016, President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC), Mr. Alphonso Bridgewater, said, “The SKNOC wishes to emphasise that respective MF’s have a shared responsibility and duty to inform and educate their athletes, officials and support staff of their obligations in complying with the IOC Code of Ethics on anti-doping and drug education. All athletes and support personnel at the Olympic Games must respect the integrity of the sport, the competition and in particular their fellow competitors.”

Mr. Bridgewater continued, “ I am sure many of you will appreciate that failure to do so may result in the IOC taking necessary measures and imposing sanctions including the withdrawal and reallocation of medals and, as the case may be, exclusion of coaches and officials from future Olympic Games.”

The SKNOC therefore strongly recommends that MF’s, their leadership and their athletes, officials and supporting staff take the time to apprise themselves of what is required of them by informing and educating themselves and their athletes and support staff via the IOC website

References to note include :

(i) The Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions

(ii) The Rules for the Application during the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro

(iii) Articles 7,9 and 10 of the IOC Code of Ethics and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions.

“By way of support, the SKNOC will make available the resources of the local National Anti-Doping Agency through the leadership of Executive Member/Assistant Secretary-General, Leroy Greene, who leads this Agency and his team.”