Peter Beattie, chairman of Gold Coast 2018, said the advertisement revealed to an audience at the GOLDOC headquarters in Ashmore is the first major component of the Organising Committee’s brand new Greatness Rarely Seen campaign due to be rolled out in various forms over the coming 16 months.

"The concept is great, the images are atmospheric and they form a wonderful GC2018 call to action," Beattie said.

"Today’s 'sneak peek' caps off a hugely exciting time for GOLDOC as we leave behind 12 months of very good planning and head into a new year of delivery that will see us launch more eye-catching elements of Greatness Rarely Seen and some very significant community programmes.

"These include our call for volunteer nominations in February, the start of the international leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in March and the beginning of our ticket sales, the GC2018 transport operations plan and one year to go celebrations in April.

"It is our hope that everyone - every man, woman and child in the Commonwealth - gets swept up in the excitement."

The Queensland-made advertisement was conceived and produced by GPY&R and Kiosk Films with the launch attended by some of the local stars of the production, including three-time Paralympic gold medal-winning swimmer Brenden Hall.

Gymnast Rianna Mizzen, decathlete Cedric Dubler and marathon runner Michael Shelley, the Glasgow 2014 gold medallist, also feature among the 43 athletes that participated in the advertisement.

Stirling Hinchliffe, Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, said the commercial preview was another milestone in the journey to Gold Coast 2018.

"The commercial’s Australia-wide screening will demonstrate to the nation and the globe that Queensland and the Gold Coast are on track to host a world-class Commonwealth Games," he said.

"The 2018 Commonwealth Games will deliver more than AUD$2 billion (£1.2 billion/$1.4 billion/€1.4 billion) to the Queensland economy, supporting jobs and local businesses.

"This commercial sets the stage for an exceptional event with Queensland on show to the world."

Gold Coast 2018 chief executive Mark Peters said today’s unveiling caps a year of significant "firsts" for the first-ever regional city to host a Commonwealth Games.

"On the sport front, with 18 sports and a record seven Para-sports, GC2018 comprises the largest competition schedule ever in a Commonwealth Games," Peters said.

"GC2018 will see beach volleyball and women’s rugby sevens making their Commonwealth Games debuts, helping us become first major multi-sport event in the world with an equal number of medals between men and women.

"Para-triathlon has been included on the programme with Para-sport athletes also lining up to take on the marathon for the first time.

"These are all significant achievements in a Commonwealth Games and in a global sporting sense and achievements of which the Gold Coast and Queensland can be justifiably proud."

Beattie said he is looking forward to many more milestones and challenges next year.

"Make no mistake, 2017 will define our ultimate delivery of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, but GOLDOC is more than up to the task and I for one can’t wait to start another great year of hard work and achievement," he said.