US firm brushes aside criticism of poor closing show

THE US-based company that pocketed more than $40 million for the “turnkey” production of Commonwealth Games ceremonies has refused to take responsibility for their abject failure.

Jack Morton Worldwide, whose appointment to the contract was widely criticised at the time, yesterday would not explain the decision not to include the athletes’ entry and flagbearing in the closing ceremony and would not answer questions about what funds were allocated to attract top-tier performers.

Merryn Hughes, executive producer of the opening and closing ceremonies, deflected questions to the firm’s senior vice-president and managing director for Australia, Helen Graney. In response to eight detailed questions Ms Graney sent a previously published statement saying the company was disappointed at “the level of criticism” the ceremony attracted.

“Having received such a positive response to the opening ceremony on the Gold Coast earlier this month, we share GOLDOC’s disappointment at the level of criticism targeted at specific aspects of last night’s ceremony,” it said.

The company was awarded the $33.2 million for the ceremonies in 2016, and was given another $13 million for other Games services.

After the company won the contract in 2015, jilted bidders, including Olympic Games ringmasters Ric Birch and David Atkins, wrote to the State Government to demand a review – but it said it should not “interfere” in the process.

There was also contention around the appointment of former long-time JMW executives as key advisers to GOLDOC. However, an independent probity inquiry ruled the process “fair and equitable”.

Jack Morton produced ceremonies for the 2004 Athens Olympics and the Melbourne and Glasgow Commonwealth Games.