By Greg Blood
Australian sport administrators have filled significant positions in international sport. John Coates has often argued that Australian sport administrators need to hold significant Australian positions particularly President/Chair for several years before standing for positions on international sports federations.
I recently researched Ray Godkin’s sport administration career for his Wikipedia article and it highlighted to me that he rose to the position of UCI Vice President in 2000 after being Cycling Australia’s President from 1985 to 2000.
Roy Master’s 2019 article discussed Sport Australia’s direction that directors of Australian national sporting federations have a maximum term of eight years and its impact on Australian’s being appointed to senior positions on international sports federations.
The article noted that Australia now has its lowest representation on international sports boards and none are presidents.
My thoughts on the current situation include –
Significant international positions require enormous commitment in hours and international travel. In cycling administrator Ray Godkin’s National Library of Australia oral history, he highlighed how he had to travel overseas more than 100 times. He was fortunate that he retired from the workforce at 55 and had time and passion to devote to cycling administration.
My recent articles stocktaking Australian sports organisations Chairs and CEO’s highlighted that in recent years many hold positions for less than five years and this is likely to impact on their ability to be supported within international sports federations. Colin Smith in Masters article stated “”It takes five years to be internationally exposed at Olympic Games and World Championships and another five years to get on International Federation boards.”
The question to be asked is it important that Australian hold these significant positions? John Coates in Master’s article stated “”Australians will not be at the table when matters such as Olympic qualification rules, technical rule changes, or the attribution of world championships or world cups are decided.”
Below I have attempted provide an historical list of Australian sport administrators that have held significant international positions – elected or professional. Many Australian sport administrators have been on international sports federations boards but the list is restricted to significant positions – President, Vice President, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer.
The list below may not be exhaustive and I welcome additions based on the list criteria.
Olympic Movement
John Coates AC
Australian role – President. Australian Rowing Council (1983-1988), President of the Australian Olympic Committee (1990 –) International role – Vice President, International Olympic Committee (2013-2017 ; 2020-)
Kevan Gosper AO
Australian role – President, Australian Olympic Committee (1985-1990)
International role –Vice President, International Olympic Committee (1990-1994, 1999-2003)
Paralympic Movement
Bob McCullough OAM
Australian role – President, Australian Paralympic Federation (1994-1997) International – President. International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (1996–2001)
Greg Hartung AO
Australian role – President, Australian Paralympic Committee (1997-2013) International role – Vice President, International Paralympic Committee (2009-2013)
Australian role – Chief Executive Officer, Sport Inclusion Australia (formerly AUSRAPID) (1991-)
International role – Vice President, International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability INAS (2013-)
Doping
John Fahey AC
Australian role – NSW Premier during Sydney Olympics Bid (1992-1993)
International role – President, World Anti-Doping Authority (2007-2013)
Basketball
Bob Elphinston OAM
Australian role – General Manager, Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Company 1991-1993, SOCOG’s General Manager – Sport (1995-2000), Secretary General, Australian Olympic Committee (2001-2004) International role – President, International Basketball Federation FIBA (2006-2010)
Cricket
Malcolm Gray AM
Australian role – Chairman, Australian Cricket Board (1986-1989) ‘
International role – President, International Cricket Council (2000-2003)
David Richards OAM
Australian role – Chief Executive Officer, Australian Cricket Board (1980-1983) ‘ International role – Chief Executive Officer, International Cricket Council (1993-2001)
Malcolm Speed AO
Australian role – Chief Executive Officer, Australian Cricket Board (1997-2001) ; International role – Chief Executive Officer, International Cricket Council (2001-2008)
Cycling
Ray Godkin OAM
Australian role – President, Australian Cycling Australia (1985-2000) International role – Vice President, Union Cycliste International UCI (2000-2008)
Netball
Eunice Gill MBE Australian role – President (1954), Honorary Secretary-Treasurer (1958-60, 1966-68), All Australia Women’s Basketball Association (now Netball Australia) International role – Vice President (1959-1967, 1983-1987). Senior Vice President (1975-1983), International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA)
Deidre Hyland
Australian role – President, All Australia Netball Association (1978-1988) International role – President, Federation of Netball Associations (1987-1991)
Dorothy McHugh OAM
Australian role -Vice President (1953), Secretary (1954-1960), NSW Netball
International role – General Secretary,International Netball Federation (1987-1991)
Sue Taylor AM
Australian role – President, Netball Australia (1995-2005) International role – Vice President, International Netball Federation (2007-)
Rowing
John Boultbee AM Australian role – Honorary Secretary, Australian Rowing Council (1982-1989) International role – Secretary General, International Rowing Federation (1989-1995)
Rugby League
Ken Arthurson AM Australian role – Executive Chairman, Australian Rugby League (1983-1997) International role – Director General, International Rugby League Board (1985-1997)
John McDonald Australian role – Chair, Australian Rugby League (1997-1998) International role – Chair, Rugby League International Federation (1998-2002)
Colin Love AM Australian role – Chair, Australian Rugby League (1999-2010) International role – Chair, Rugby League International Federation (2002-2011)
John Grant Australian role – Chair, Australian Rugby League Commission (2012-2018) International role – Chair, Rugby League International Federation (2018)
Rugby Union
Bob Tuckey Australian role – Chair, Australian Rugby Union (2001-2005) International role – Vice Chair, International Rugby Board (2004-2007)
Sailing
Sarah Kenny Australian role – Vice President, Australian Sailing (2013-2019) International role – Vice President, World Sailing (2020-)
Squash
Robert Finch AM
Australian role – President, Squash Australia (1985-1993)
International role – Vice President, World Squash Federation (1990-1997)
Sarah Fitz-Gerald AM
Australian role – Vice President, Squash Australia (2006-2009)
International rle – Vice President, World Squash Federation (2016-)
Swimming
William Berge Phillips OBE
Australian role- Secretary Treasurer (1941-1967), President (1967-1970), Australian Swimming Union International role – Vice President, Fédération Iinternationale de Natation FINA (1952-1964), President Fédération Iinternationale de Natation FINA (1964-1968)
Syd Grange AO MBE MVO
Australian role – Vice President (1963-1968, 1972-1977), President (1977-1985), Australian Swimming Union International role – Vice President, Fédération Iinternationale de Natation FINA (1972-1984)
Table Tennis
Neil Harwood
Australian role – President, Table Tennis Australia (1996 – 1999)
International Role – Deputy President (2012-2013), Executove Vice President (2005-2012), International Table Tennis Federation
Glenn Tepper
Australian role -National Coaching Director, Table Tennis Australia (1996 – 1999)
International role – Deputy Chief Executive Officer, International Table Tennis Federation (2011 – 2018)
Steve Dainton
Australian role – Oceania Development Officer, International Table Tennis Federation (2002-2005)
International role – Chief Executive Officer, International Table Tennis Federation (2017-)
Tennis
Brian Tobin AM Australian role – President, Lawn Tennis Association of Australia (now Tennis Australia) (1977-1989) International role – President, International Tennis Federation (1991-1999)
Triathlon
Phil Coles AM
Australian role -Secretary General, Australian Olympic Committee (1985-1993) International role – Secretary General, International Triathlon Union (1994-1999)
Water Polo
Peter Montgomery AM Australian role – Honorary Treasurer, Australian Amateur Water Polo Association (1982-1992) ; Vice President, Australian Olympic Committee (2001-2016) International role – Honorary Secretary, FINA Technical Water Polo Committee (1984-1992) ; Foundation President, World Olympians Association (WOA) (1995-1999)
Weightlifting
Sam Coffa AM Australian role – President, Australian Weightlifting Federation (1983-2007), (2018- ) ; President, Commonwealth Games Australia (1999-2018) ; International role – First Vice President, International Weightlifting Federation (2000-2016)
Orginally published 2 November 2020 ; updated 7 November 2020