Colin Biggs, Austrade’s London-based Senior Business Development Manager responsible for Olympic Games activity, claimed that leading Australian infrastructure companies, and architects, as well as specialists in procurement, security training and sports management, have all secured contracts. 
 
"Sydney is still viewed as the gold standard for Olympics so it’s probably not surprising that Australian companies, who are recognised as world leaders in their often specialised fields, have been successful in securing contracts," said Biggs.

"There are also many Australian nationals in key positions within the organising structure including the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chief executive ffficer, David Higgins."

Among the firms to have won contracts are Westfield, who are building Europe's largest shopping centre in Stratford, which is adjacent to the Olympic Park and is seen a vital part of East London's regeneration, Lend Lease, the project managers for the Olympic Village, Populous, architects in the Team McAlpine Consortium, responsible for designing the main stadium, and Ron Webb, the designer of the track at the Velodrome.
 
But Biggs urged, that that there with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of contracts still available in areas such as the development of the Opening Ceremony, Australian companies should continue to work hard.
 
"We have noticed that the successful companies invariably pitch themselves as world leaders in their field, and stress their involvement either in previous Olympics or in similarly demanding events," he said.  

"It's also worth noting that the organisers will often seek to appoint major, tier one contractors, and rely on the supply chain to manage the tier two and three levels of subcontracts.

"The target for many companies is therefore frequently not the organising committee. 

"Beyond that, Austrade is in regular contact with key players to get more specific business intelligence on developing structure, priorities and timing of the organising committee and the many commercial organisations, and areas where Australian capability can make a contribution, including insights into how supply chains operate."

Biggs believes that London 2012 can also act as a launch platform for work at other major events to be staged in Europe during the next few years.

"The London 2012 Games will also provide an opportunity to form alliances with UK and European partners, allowing consortia to bid for future northern hemisphere projects, such as the Euro 2012 football tournament in Poland and the Ukraine in 2012, and the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 in Russia," he said.

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