By Sarah Herbert
The Olympic Games, celebrated for their spirit of international unity and athletic excellence, have been marred by a series of procurement and bidding scandals, a legacy stretching back two millennia.
Salt Lake City bid bribery scandal[1], Tokyo 2020 bid-rigging affairs[2], and Sochi[3] procurement corruption have left behind a trail of scandal that undermines the integrity and spirit of the games. These incidents led to expulsions, convictions, new rules, and significant financial and reputational damage highlighting ongoing issues and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
This pattern of procurement risk is not unique to the Olympics. The Queensland Government has faced significant challenges and negative publicity due to allegations of misappropriation, making the lessons of past games especially relevant as Brisbane prepares for 2032.
Investigations by the Crime and Corruption Commission exposed systemic vulnerabilities in Queensland’s procurement processes. Recent cases include:
- criminal convictions for conflicts of interest in government tendering, where officials released confidential information and accepted kickbacks, and
- allegations of undue influence and tailored procurement processes prompting independent inquiries and referrals to anti-corruption bodies.
The controversies have reinforced calls for stronger governance, robust internal controls, and proactive measures to safeguard public trust in government contracting.[4]
With Brisbane set to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, now is the perfect time to turn minds to procurement risks ensuring transparency and integrity remain at the heart of this global celebration.[5]
Whilst Olympic cheats are no longer flogged or publicly shamed by the commissioning of statues positioned in a hall of shame[6], there remains a call for establishing robust controls, enforcing clear policies, and promoting accountability to reduce conflict of interest, misconduct and procurement risks. By strengthening these processes now, organisers can ensure the Games are deployed ethically and free from the controversies impacting previous host cities.[7]
Navigating procurement challenges requires more than just compliance—it calls for insight, discretion, and a nuanced understanding of government environments. As history shows, even the most well-intentioned organisations can face misconduct. Therefore, having access to and drawing on the experience of skilled fraud prevention and investigation teams is vital to address fraud and corruption risk with the ability to identify and investigate questionable practice/s and address improper conduct being essential.
It has been widely reported that the total funding envelope for Olympic venues and infrastructure for the Brisbane 2032 games is $7.1 billion. This scale of funding, that while enabling world-class facilities, also presents significant challenges in safeguarding against procurement risks. The magnitude of this budget, combined with the pressure of strict delivery timelines, underscores the importance of robust governance and vigilant oversight to deter those who might seek to exploit such opportunities for personal gain.
CurbyMcLintock has conducted complex procurement related investigations for all levels of government which has resulted in referrals being made to the appropriate corruption/integrity body. Trying to unpick what has occurred after the fact is complex and time consuming, so being able to take those learnings to establish robust procurement processes and responding to and investigating procurement irregularities in a timely manner, goes a long way to preventing significant procurement/corruption issues from arising.
Let’s be realistic, things can and will go wrong. Misconduct will likely occur. The best an organisation can do is promote and reward integrity within its ranks. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. At CurbyMcLintock, we work with our clients to plan for the worst and investigate when things go wrong. CurbyMcLintock does this by bringing together a cross functional team with deep investigative experience and a practical grasp of public sector expectations. Our approach blends forensic expertise with a genuine appreciation for the sensitivities of government work, offering a reliable resource for addressing procurement complexities, managing risk, and reinforcing integrity; quietly and effectively.
Our philosophy is simple: leave an organisation in a better position that when we arrived. This mindset shifts the conversation from ‘what went wrong’ to ‘how will we be better going forward.’
The Olympic torch burns brightest when fueled by fairness and accountability. As the world’s eyes turn to Brisbane 2032, now is the moment to champion robust governance and ethical stewardship. Organisations looking to strengthen their defences against procurement risk can find a thoughtful partner in CurbyMcLintock, helping ensure the Games are remembered for their achievements, not their controversies.
References
[1] Salt Lake Winter Olympics: A look back to 25 years ago, when the first bid for the Games was rocked by scandal
[2] Japan’s top ad agency indicted over Olympics bid-rigging scandal | Japan | The Guardian
[3] Sochi 2014: the costliest Olympics yet but where has all the money gone? | Winter Olympics 2014 | The Guardian
[4] Corruption outcomes | CCC – Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland
[5] Brisbane 2032: Why transparency and good governance must guide Olympic infrastructure – Transparency International Australia % %
[6] Since Ancient Greece, the Olympics and bribery have gone hand in hand
