Kevan Gosper
Encyclopedia
Kevan Gosper is a former Australia
n athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was formerly a Vice President of the International Olympic Committee
.
held in Melbourne
, Australia
where he won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 metre relay with his team mates Graham Gipson
, Leon Gregory
and David Lean
.
in 1977; was a Vice President of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
(SOCOG). He is Chief of the IOC Press Commission, Deputy Chairman of the IOC Co-ordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Chairman of Olympic Games Knowledge Services and President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees
. He was Inaugural Chairman of the Australian Institute of Sport
1980-85, and President of the Australian Olympic Committee 1985-1990 and continues to serve on its Executive Board.
From 1980 to 1993 Kevan was Chairman and Chief Executive of Shell
Australia in Melbourne, and later Head of Shell Asia Pacific operations out of London. The other positions he has held include being Chief Commissioner
of the City of Melbourne
and Chairman of the National Australia Day Council
. He is a Director of a number of Australian companies including Crown Casino Limited, Visy Industries and Lion Nathan
.
He was honoured with an Australian Sports Medal
in 2000 for services to athletics and the Olympic movement, and has been similarly honoured by France
, The Netherlands, Spain
, Monaco
and Senegal
. His autobiography, An Olympic Life, was published in March 2000.
Gosper attracted controversy in the run up to the 2000 Olympics
in Sydney when his daughter was invited to take part in the Olympic Torch relay. Several days earlier the media published a story which stated that a young Greek-Australian girl, who at the time was traveling through Greece with a school exchange program, would be the first Australian to run with the Olympic flame. Gosper, who at the time was already in Greece overlooking preparations for the Games, was not aware of this article being published. The media criticised Gosper for replacing the young Greek-Australian girl with his daughter, even though the media had no official statements from the Greek National Olympic Committee to support this allegation. The idea of her running with the torch had simply been mentioned by the head of her school exchange program who thought it would be a wonderful opportunity if it could be arranged. More recently he has been accused of being an "apologist for dictators" after his criticism of pro-democracy protesters during the Beijing 2008 torch relay.
Gosper recently suggested that during the Olympic Torch Australian appearance Chinese para-military torch attendants could be called into action if Australian police were unable to cope with potential protests. His remarks prompted a swift rebuke from Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was formerly a Vice President of the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
.
1956 Summer Olympics
He competed for Australia in the 1956 Summer Olympics1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
held in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
where he won the silver medal in the 4 x 400 metre relay with his team mates Graham Gipson
Graham Gipson
Graham Gipson was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for Australia in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Leon Gregory, David Lean and Kevan Gosper...
, Leon Gregory
Leon Gregory
Leon Gregory was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for Australia in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the Silver medal with his team mates Graham Gipson, David Lean and Kevan Gosper...
and David Lean
David Lean (athlete)
David Lean was an Australian athlete who competed mainly in the 440 metre hurdles and 400 metres relays....
.
International Olympic Committee
He was nominated to the International Olympic CommitteeInternational Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
in 1977; was a Vice President of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(SOCOG). He is Chief of the IOC Press Commission, Deputy Chairman of the IOC Co-ordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Chairman of Olympic Games Knowledge Services and President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees
Oceania National Olympic Committees
The Oceania National Olympic Committees is an international organisation that congregates the 17 National Olympic Committees of Oceania....
. He was Inaugural Chairman of the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
1980-85, and President of the Australian Olympic Committee 1985-1990 and continues to serve on its Executive Board.
From 1980 to 1993 Kevan was Chairman and Chief Executive of Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
Australia in Melbourne, and later Head of Shell Asia Pacific operations out of London. The other positions he has held include being Chief Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
A Chief Commissioner is a commissioner of a high rank, usually in chief of several Commissioners or similarly styled officers.-Colonial:In British India the gubernatorial style was Chief Commissioner in various provinces , the style being applied especially where an elected assembly did not exist,...
of the City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...
and Chairman of the National Australia Day Council
National Australia Day Council
The coordinating body for the Australian of the Year Awards and Australia Day celebrations across the nation is the National Australia Day Council ....
. He is a Director of a number of Australian companies including Crown Casino Limited, Visy Industries and Lion Nathan
Lion Nathan
Lion Nathan National Foods is the parent company created in October 2009, into which Lion Nathan and National Foods were merged. It is fully owned by Kirin Holdings Company, Limited...
.
He was honoured with an Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
in 2000 for services to athletics and the Olympic movement, and has been similarly honoured by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, The Netherlands, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. His autobiography, An Olympic Life, was published in March 2000.
Gosper attracted controversy in the run up to the 2000 Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney when his daughter was invited to take part in the Olympic Torch relay. Several days earlier the media published a story which stated that a young Greek-Australian girl, who at the time was traveling through Greece with a school exchange program, would be the first Australian to run with the Olympic flame. Gosper, who at the time was already in Greece overlooking preparations for the Games, was not aware of this article being published. The media criticised Gosper for replacing the young Greek-Australian girl with his daughter, even though the media had no official statements from the Greek National Olympic Committee to support this allegation. The idea of her running with the torch had simply been mentioned by the head of her school exchange program who thought it would be a wonderful opportunity if it could be arranged. More recently he has been accused of being an "apologist for dictators" after his criticism of pro-democracy protesters during the Beijing 2008 torch relay.
Gosper recently suggested that during the Olympic Torch Australian appearance Chinese para-military torch attendants could be called into action if Australian police were unable to cope with potential protests. His remarks prompted a swift rebuke from Australian Attorney-General Robert McClelland
Robert McClelland (Australian politician)
Robert Bruce McClelland is the Attorney-General of Australia. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of theAustralian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Barton, New South Wales...
.