Preparations for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, are on schedule. That’s the word from the Games organisers despite industrial action hampering progress at key construction sites. And today a major new sponsor for the event was revealed.

Toby Crockford reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Holding a secure event is a top priority for Games’ organisers.

Australian company ATOS today was unveiled as a major sponsor tasked with overseeing IT security.

Peter Beattie, Commonwealth Games 2018 Chairman: “We’ve just got something like 75,000 people who need to be accredited. While security being an issue, you really are going to be the backbone of security.”

ATOS was involved in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Peter Robertson, ATOS Australia Managing Director: “Our technology capabilities are recognised worldwide and are no more evident than in the partnership we have with our worldwide information and technology partner with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

While it was all smiles at Games HQ, things weren’t going so well at Carrara.

The CFMEU workers here at the Carrara Sports Precinct, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies, plan to strike indefinitely for four hours every day until disputes over a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement can be resolved.

The Opposition says the union is filled with “gold medal winning” claims.

John Paul Langbroek, Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games: “They basically think they can do anything and Queenslanders are held to ransom both as taxpayers and because of the preparations for the Commonwealth Games.”

Mr Beattie reiterated industrial action won’t affect delivery of the games.

Peter Beattie, Commonwealth Games 2018 Chairman: “The projects as you know are ahead of time, so they will be delivered on time, it will not affect Carrara or any other project being delivered.”

The Commonwealth Games kick-off in April, 2018.

Toby Crockford, QUT News.