Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said both would bring “exceptional expertise” to the organising committee, which will be responsible for delivering both the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.

Cook, who won a beach volleyball gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said she was proud to be part of the organising committee. Cairns-born Johnson competed as a sprinter in the 2000 Olympics and has since been at the forefront of promoting improvements in indigenous health.

“Never thought I’d be that excited about a phone call,” Cook said.

“For us to be there standing at the opening ceremony in Brisbane the feeling would be as good at winning a gold medal.”

“Nat is from Townsville and Patrick was actually born on a speedboat on the way to the maternity ward in Cairns,” the Premier said.

“I have said from the start that I want all of Queensland to share in the pride of hosting our own Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Johnson, son of a Kaanju mother, said he had his sights set on spreading the Olympic spirit in Queensland’s remote indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“The Olympic motto is faster, higher, stronger, together,” Patrick said.

“The most important word is ‘together’.

The announcement completes Palaszczuk’s nominees to the 22 member Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Board.

She said five more independent directors, agreed to by the Premier and Prime Minister, derived from an international search will be announced soon.