John Kotzas has publicly welcomed the Gold Coast’s newly signed sister city agreement with Ancient Olympia, describing it as an exciting opportunity ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games and highlighting its significance as someone of Greek heritage.
The comments from the newly appointed Head of Arts and Culture at Experience Gold Coast provide the first public confirmation from a senior Gold Coast official following The Greek Herald’s exclusive report in March that the historic Greek city and the Gold Coast were moving towards a formal sister city partnership.
Speaking to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Kotzas said he was enthusiastic about the agreement and the possibilities it could create for the region.
“The Gold Coast has just signed the first sister-city agreement with Olympia, and as someone with proud Greek heritage, I’m really excited about the opportunities this will create,” he said.
The partnership links the birthplace of the Olympic Games with one of the key regions expected to play a major role in hosting events and visitors during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As first reported by The Greek Herald, the proposal was unanimously approved by the Municipal Council of Ancient Olympia, with both sides exploring opportunities for cooperation across tourism, culture, education and the promotion of Olympic values.
Ancient Olympia Mayor Aristeidis Panagiotopoulos previously told The Greek Herald that the agreement had the potential to create meaningful connections between the two communities while strengthening awareness of Olympia’s historical significance on the international stage.
Kotzas’ endorsement comes just weeks after he commenced his new role at Experience Gold Coast following a distinguished career at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), where he served as chief executive for 16 years.
The Queensland arts leader said the Gold Coast was entering a transformative period and argued that culture should be viewed broadly, encompassing everything from the arts and education to sport and community identity.
“I don’t think we should be thinking of sport versus the arts or even surfing versus football, it’s all one… it’s all part of our culture,” he said.
Kotzas suggested the Olympia partnership aligns with the city’s ambition to build stronger international relationships while showcasing its unique identity ahead of 2032.
The agreement is expected to support future exchanges and collaborative projects between the two cities, with potential initiatives spanning cultural programming, tourism promotion, educational partnerships and Olympic heritage activities.
For the Gold Coast, the partnership provides a symbolic connection to the birthplace of the Olympic movement. For Ancient Olympia, it offers a direct link to one of the regions preparing to welcome the world when the Olympic Games return to Australia in 2032.
