Probity auditors have been called in to examine the awarding of the Ceremonies for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast to Jack Morton Worldwide ©Getty Images

Queensland's Government have called in probity auditors to examine the circumstances around the awarding of the contract to produce the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast.

American company Jack Morton Worldwide (JMW) were appointed last month following the tender process, which sparked fury among those who failed in their bids for the Ceremonies.

Led by Olympics creative director Ric Birch, who coordinated the the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Bristbane, as well as at the 1992 and 2000 Olympics in Barcelona and Sydney, the group, which also includes unsuccessful bidders David Atkins and Julie Brooks, hadcalled for a review of the process.

Last week it was revealed that Mik Aukland, recently been appointed Gold Coast 2018 technical director, worked for JMW for nine years.

He then joined Glasgow 2014 as head of Ceremonies, which were produced by JMW. 

His partner Celia, meanwhile, was with JMW up until 2014.

The couple then formed their own company called Red Thread, who have been advising Gold Coast 2018 on their Ceremonies. 

Gold Coast 2018 have denied that they played any role in the rewarding of the tender. 

Jack Morton Worldwide produced the highly-acclaimed Ceremonies the last time Australia hosted the Commonwealth Games, at Melbourne in 2006 ©Getty Images
Jack Morton Worldwide produced the highly-acclaimed Ceremonies the last time Australia hosted the Commonwealth Games, at Melbourne in 2006 ©Getty Images

The decision to award JMW the contract has been criticised, however, by Tony Cochrane, a prominent Gold Coast businessman.

"The [Queensland] Government needs to stop [and] go back to square one," Cochrane, who recently took over as chairman of the Australian Rules League club Gold Coast Suns, told Australian Associated Press. 

"There's a lot of smell about this whole process, so just start again."

JMW’s London office conceived, planned, and delivered the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the last edition of the Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow in 2014. 

They also produced both Ceremonies at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the last time the event was held in Australia.