Brisbane-based venue management specialists, Ogden International Facilities Corporation signed a contract with the Beijing State-Owned Asset Management Company which is responsible for the delivery of China’s Olympic Games venues. 

The contract is for the provision of management advisory services relating to the operation of the National Swimming Centre - otherwise known as the Water Cube - an internationally recognised landmark venue designed by Australia’s PTW Architects.

The contract will be undertaken by Ogden IFC in a newly formed joint venture with China National Sports Group, a subsidiary of the State General Administration for Sport (that country’s national sports department).

Ogden IFC Executive Director, Rod Pilbeam said the new joint venture would be responsible for supplying advice on the final commercial elements for the facility, a market assessment for the Centre’s facilities, and developing a Business Plan, budget and a start-up operations plan following hand-over from the construction contractor. 

Speaking at the recent signing ceremony in Beijing, Mr Pilbeam said he hoped the partnership would create a strong impression with the BJSAM and be a stepping stone to a full management contract for the Centre and possibly for other Olympic venues. 

“We have spent three years getting to know each other and co-operated on some smaller projects, including the establishment of the International Sports Facilities Expo in Beijing last November.”

“The Chinese are intent that their new venues have a viable future following the Games and have encouraged PTW Architects to provide additional commercial elements to the design of the swimming and diving centre. It appears the Centre has the scope to return a positive financial outcome from its ongoing operations,” he said.

This contract follows Ogden IFC’s solo engagement last year to provide operations review services for the 80,000 seat National Olympic Stadium known as The Birdcage.

Mr Pilbeam has previously been retained as the operations adviser on the tender assessment panel for the new Beijing Convention Centre which will serve as the International Broadcast centre for the 2008 Olympics.