The Local Organising Committee thanks Our Ambassadors who have come on board to support the Lifesaving World Championships 2024 in many ways.
Mayor’s Message for the Lifesaving World Championships 2024
Tom Tate was elected Mayor of the Gold Coast, Australia’s sixth largest city, in 2012. He was re-elected for a second term in 2016 and a third term in 2020. Tom is dedicated to reducing the cost of living pressures facing residents, reforming Council, cutting waste and broadening the Gold Coast’s economic base beyond its cornerstones of tourism and construction.
Tom is a civil engineer by trade, having graduated from the University of NSW in the early 1980s. He started his career in the construction industry and later moved into the tourism and hospitality industry.
With a strong business background, Tom has spent his time in office ensuring everyone knows that the Gold Coast is ‘open for business’. This has seen certainty return to the city, which in turn has boosted confidence and created significant investment across the Gold Coast. Tom is leading a city that is embracing change and dreaming big.
His focus for the future is to build on the legacy of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games by focusing on the key areas of transport and digital infrastructure; health, education and knowledge; events; culture and business investment. Tom is committed to ensuring a future for the Gold Coast that includes a stronger economy, more jobs and protecting the city’s enviable lifestyle.
Tom has been married to his wife, Ruth for over 40 years and together they have four children.
The multi-cultural Mayor was born in Asia and is fluent in three languages.
John Baker, Lifesaving World Championships 2024 Ambassador
John Baker has been an active lifesaver for 45 years as a patrolling member, competitor and office bearer at club, state, national and international levels. He is a Life Member of Brighton SLSC, Surf Life Saving SA and Surf Life Saving Australia and he was inducted into to SLSSA Hall of Fame in 2021.
John is in his third year as National President, having been Deputy National President for five years and State President for 10 years prior to that.
John was on the Event Committee for the 2012 Lifesaving World Championships, and he was Chairman of the 2018 Lifesaving World Championships.
In 2017 John was awarded the National Emergency Services Medal (ESM) for distinguished service with the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.
The Local Organising Committee leaders, led by Project Director and Chair Ron Rankin AM, have been carefully selected to ensure we put on the best attended, most inclusive and most inspiring Lifesaving World Championships ever.
Chairman’s Message of Welcome
On behalf of the Local Organising Committee and Surf Life Saving Queensland, it is my pleasure to invite all ILS Member Nations to participate in the Lifesaving World Championships 2024 on Australia’s Gold Coast. This is the third Lifesaving World Championships I have had the honour of chairing and with the support of everyone involved, it is my goal to deliver the most inclusive, inspiring and best ever attended Lifesaving World Championships for your enjoyment.
The support offered by the Queensland Government, the City of Gold Coast and our important sponsors, will help make the Lifesaving World Championships 2024 a very memorable experience for our international visitors and all Australians who participate. The beauty and vast range of experiences available on the Gold Coast will make the visit very memorable for competitors, officials, their families and friends from around the World.
Ocean and beach events will be conducted on the pristine beach and parklands at Kurrawa, Broadbeach while all pool competition will be held in the city’s first-class Aquatic Centre at Southport. All meetings, functions and assemblies will be conducted in the Broadbeach precinct close to the beach and surrounded by a range of excellent accommodation and hospitality venues.
We are offering a Developing Nations Assistance Program available for eligible ILS Member Nations to apply. This program will be launched late 2023 and extended to 20 Nations.
If you want to see the World’s best surf lifesavers in action including lifesavers from at least 50 nations and more than 7,000 competitors and officials, we invite you to come along. The Lifesaving World Championships have not been held in Queensland since 1988 and Surf Life Saving Queensland is doing everything to plan and deliver a world class event. Have a look at the program on the website www.lwc2024.com and you will see how extensive this event will be.
SEE YOU IN 2024!
