Greg Norman has landed himself a surprise new role in Australia It comes after the two-time major champion was sacked as LIV Golf’s CEO
Greg Norman was officially replaced from his role as LIV Golf’s CEO by former Legoland boss Scott O’Neil earlier this month in a move that shocked many around the golfing world.
‘LONG LIV GOLF,’ Norman had proclaimed after officially vacating the role that had seen him launch the controversial Saudi-backed golf league back in 2021.
And while he will no doubt still have one eye on LIV, with the organisation still in negotiations with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour over a shocking merger, Norman will turn his attention to a new project closer to home.
The two-time major winner has been announced as the latest individual to join a powerful and exciting list of sporting and commercial directors on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics board.
Norman, who is also known as ‘The Shark’, had previously added that he will continue to have an involvement with LIV Golf, but said he was excited about his new position as part of the Brisbane Olympics board of directors.
‘While I wish I could wind the clock back four decades and compete in 2032 – it is a privilege to help shape the Brisbane Games,’ Norman told the Courier Mail.
Greg Norman is set to take up a directors role on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics board
It comes just weeks after the Australian was axed from his role as the CEO of LIV Golf
‘In my youth in the 70s, I worked in the golf shop at Royal Queensland, and now that course will be the home of golf at Brisbane 2032.
‘As a proud Queenslander, it is an honour and privilege to help shape the Brisbane Games.
‘We will prove our credentials as world leaders in events, sport and hospitality and create an incredible legacy for this state.’
Norman, who clinched the Open twice during his career and amassed 34 victories on the PGA Tour and European Tour during his playing career, has urged Brisbane to prioritise building new stadiums for the Games.
It comes as Cricket Australia are launching plans to replace the Gabba with a new state-of-the-art stadium ahead of the 2032 Games.
He added that he had been perusing Google Maps looking for areas and locations where organisers might be able to establish new sporting infrastructure in the city. But he was not prepared to comment over whether a refurbishment of the iconic cricket stadium would take place or whether a new arena would be built in Victoria Park, having only ‘dipped his toes in the water’.
‘I actually Google Mapped Brisbane the other day… I said, okay, I know this place here and I know here,’ the Mount Isa-born executive said.
‘And I said: “Okay, what happens if we did this, this and this?” And so I’ve already started in my mind the process, but it’s very early days.’
Norman was appointed to the role by Brisbane Olympics president Andrew Liveris (centre)
Norman said that he would draw on his experiences from working as LIV’s CEO to help make Brisbane the ‘North Star of the Olympics’
Norman’s work helping LIV Golf grow to establish itself as a multibillion-dollar sporting franchise was key in his appointment.
‘I’ll draw on those [experiences from LIV] to see what really worked well and what didn’t work well and then I’ll give them my input – that’s obviously one of the reasons why they wanted me to come on board,’ he said.
It also comes as Norman has landed himself as a diplomatic intermediary between Donald Trump and Australia’s US ambassador Kevin Rudd.
The Courier Mail reports that Norman had quietly held ‘behind the scenes talks’ with the new US President, as Australian officials looked to build relations with Trump’s office. Norman and Trump are understood to be acquaintances and he had previously linked up Malcolm Turnbull to Trump in 2017.
Norman will now join the Brisbane Olympics board which is being spearheaded by Dr Andrew Liveris, the organising committee’s president, and also boasts some huge names from Australian sport. Those include Olympic kayaker Jess Fox, sprinter Patrick Johnson and wheelchair racing star Kurt Fearnley.
Norman, though, is excited about the new venture and revealed his hopes for the 2032 Olympics.
‘I said to Andrew Liveris tonight, I want Brisbane to be the North Star of the Olympics… You’ve got to set your goals high, you’ve got to just be shooting for something that’s never been shot for before,’ he said.
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Greg Norman lands a surprise new role back in Australia just weeks after the two-time major winner was brutally axed by LIV Golf
