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{{short description|Australian sprinter}}
{{Short description|Australian athlete and administrator (1933–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Order of Australia|AO]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Order of Australia|AO]]
| name = Richard Kevan Gosper
| name = Richard Kevan Gosper
| image = Kevan Gosper - 1951.jpg
| image = Kevan Gosper - 1951.jpg
| caption = Gosper in 1951
| caption = Gosper in 1951
| nationality = [[Australian]]
| nationality = [[Australia]]n
| order = [[Lord Mayor of Melbourne|Chief Commissioner of Melbourne]]
| order = [[Lord Mayor of Melbourne|Chief Commissioner of Melbourne]]
| term_start = 1993
| term_start = 1993
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| predecessor =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| successor =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1933|12|19|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|12|19|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place = [[Newcastle, New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|7|19|1933|12|19|df=y}}<ref>https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/australian-olympic-powerbroker-kevan-gosper-dies-aged-90/ar-BB1qfwSE {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| spouse =
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}}
}}


'''Richard Kevan Gosper''', [[Order of Australia|AO]]<ref name="ao">{{cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=886419&search_type=quick&showInd=true|title=Gosper, Richard Kevan, AO|publisher=It's an Honour|accessdate=22 September 2013}}</ref> (born 19 December 1933) is an Australian former athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was formerly a Vice President of the [[International Olympic Committee]], and combined Chairman and CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, Australia.
'''Richard Kevan Gosper''', [[Order of Australia|AO]]<ref name="ao">{{cite web |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/886419 |title=Gosper, Richard Kevan, AO |publisher=It's an Honour |access-date=22 September 2013}}</ref> (19 December 1933 – 19 July 2024) was an Australian athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was a Vice President of the [[International Olympic Committee]], and combined Chairman and CEO of [[Shell Australia]]. Gosper died on 19 July 2024, at the age of 90.<ref>[https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/olympic-powerbroker-kevan-gosper-dies-aged-90/ar-BB1qfB4W Olympic powerbroker Kevan Gosper dies, aged 90] MSN</ref>


==1956 Summer Olympics==
==1956 Summer Olympics==
⚫
Gosper competed for Australia in the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Melbourne]], Australia, where he won the silver medal in the 4&nbsp;×&nbsp;400 metre relay with his teammates [[Graham Gipson]], [[Leon Gregory]] and [[David Lean (athlete)|David Lean]]. Their run set a new Australian record of 3 min 6.2 sec.<ref>{{cite news |date=3 December 1956 |title=Our Boys Win a Medal They Didn't Expect |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71769193 |accessdate=21 July 2024 |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |location=Victoria, Australia |page=19 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

⚫
Gosper competed for Australia in the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] held in [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]], where he won the silver medal in the 4 × 400 metre relay with his teammates [[Graham Gipson]], [[Leon Gregory]] and [[David Lean (athlete)|David Lean]].


==International Olympic Committee==
==International Olympic Committee==
He was nominated to the [[International Olympic Committee]] in 1977; was a vice president of the [[2000 Summer Olympics|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.
Gosper was nominated to the [[International Olympic Committee]] in 1977; was a vice president of the [[Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games]] (SOCOG). He was chief of the IOC Press Commission, deputy chairman of the IOC Co-ordination Commission for the [[2008 Summer Olympics|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]] 1980–1985, and president of the Australian Olympic Committee 1985–1990 and continued to serve on its executive board.{{cn|date=July 2024}}


From 1980 to 1993 Kevan was chairman and chief executive of [[Royal Dutch Shell|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]].
From 1980 to 1993 Gosper 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 held include being [[chief commissioner]] of the [[City of Melbourne]] and chairman of the [[National Australia Day Council]]. He was a director of a number of Australian companies, including [[Crown Resorts]], [[Visy]] and [[Lion (Australasian company)|Lion Nathan]].{{cn|date=July 2024}}


His autobiography, ''An Olympic Life'', was published in March 2000.
His autobiography, ''An Olympic Life'', was published in March 2000.{{cn|date=July 2024}}


In May 2000, Gosper was criticized after his daughter Sophie was made the first Australian torchbearer in a late change over the previously selected Greek-Australian Yianna Souleles. At age 11, Sophie Gosper was too young by one year to carry the torch in Australia, but was invited by the Hellenic Olympic Committee to be the second carrier of the Olympic flame in Greece.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/gold-coast-130/remember-when-controversy-surrounded-the-lighting-of-the-olympic-torch-for-sydney-in-2000/news-story/0dd9fb9ac3aedcfae60dc42a46a93b44|title=Remember when: controversy surrounded the lighting of the Olympic torch for Sydney in 2000|publisher=Gold Coast Bulletin|date=27 January 2016|accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref> Gosper apologized days later due to public outrage, though he insisted he was not involved in the decision.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s126454.htm|title=Kevan Gosper apologises|publisher=ABC News|date= 13 May 2000|accessdate=20 April 2020}}</ref>
In May 2000, Gosper was criticised after his daughter Sophie was made the first Australian [[2000 Summer Olympics torch relay|torchbearer]] in a late change over the previously selected Greek-Australian Yianna Souleles. At age 11, Sophie Gosper was too young by one year to carry the torch in Australia, but was invited by the [[Hellenic Olympic Committee]] to be the second carrier of the Olympic flame in Greece.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/gold-coast-130/remember-when-controversy-surrounded-the-lighting-of-the-olympic-torch-for-sydney-in-2000/news-story/0dd9fb9ac3aedcfae60dc42a46a93b44 |title=Remember when: controversy surrounded the lighting of the Olympic torch for Sydney in 2000 |publisher=[[Gold Coast Bulletin]] |date=27 January 2016 |access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref> Gosper apologised days later due to public outrage, though he insisted he was not involved in the decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s126454.htm |title=Kevan Gosper apologises |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=13 May 2000 |access-date=20 April 2020}}</ref>


He was accused of being an "apologist for dictators" after his criticism of pro-democracy protesters during the Beijing 2008 torch relay.<ref>{{cite news | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411012051/http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/china_torched_5/ | archivedate=11 April 2008 | url=http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/china_torched_5/ | title=China torched #5 | first=Andrew | last=Bolt | authorlink=Andrew Bolt | newspaper=Herald Sun | date=9 April 2008 | accessdate=3 April 2018 }}</ref> He 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 (Australian politician)|Robert McClelland]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23547274-2702,00.html | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811185058/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/gosper-rebuked-on-flame-security/story-e6frg6nx-1111116073739 | archivedate=11 August 2011 | title=Gosper rebuked on flame security | first1=Samantha | last1=Maiden | first2=Paul | last2=Maley | newspaper=The Australian | date=16 April 2008 | accessdate=3 April 2018}}</ref>
He was accused of being an "apologist for dictators" after his criticism of pro-democracy protesters during the [[2008 Summer Olympics torch relay|Beijing 2008 torch relay]].<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411012051/http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/china_torched_5/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 |url=http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/china_torched_5/ |title=China torched #5 |first=Andrew |last=Bolt |author-link=Andrew Bolt |newspaper=[[Herald Sun]] |date=9 April 2008 |access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref> He 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 (Australian politician)|Robert McClelland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23547274-2702,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811185058/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/gosper-rebuked-on-flame-security/story-e6frg6nx-1111116073739 |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Gosper rebuked on flame security |first1=Samantha |last1=Maiden |first2=Paul |last2=Maley |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |date=16 April 2008 |access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>


==Honours==
==Honours==
Gosper was made an Officer of the [[Order of Australia]] in 1986, and was inducted into the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] in 1989.<ref name="ao"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/kevan-gosper/|title=Kevan Gosper|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame|accessdate=24 September 2020}}</ref> He received an [[Australian Sports Medal]] in 2000 for services to athletics and the Olympic movement,<ref>{{cite web
Gosper was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] (AO) in the [[1986 Australia Day Honours]] for service to sport and sports administration,<ref name="AD86">{{cite web |title=AD86 |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/AD86.pdf |accessdate=16 January 2023 |publisher=Governor General's Office of Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020002432/http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/AD86.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and was inducted into the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] in 1989.<ref name="ao"/><ref name="sahof">{{cite web |url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/kevan-gosper/ |title=Kevan Gosper |publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame |access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> He received an [[Australian Sports Medal]] in 2000 for services to athletics and the Olympic movement,<ref>{{cite web |title=It's an Honour |publisher=[[Government of Australia]] |url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/sports_medal.cfm |access-date=10 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216143502/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/sports_medal.cfm |archive-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> and was similarly honoured by France, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco and Senegal and Solomon Islands.<ref name="sahof"/>
|title = It's an Honour
|publisher = [[Australian Government]]
|url = http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/sports_medal.cfm
|accessdate = 2008-08-10
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110216143502/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/medals/sports_medal.cfm
|archivedate = 2011-02-16
}}</ref> and has been similarly honoured by [[France]], [[The Netherlands]], [[Spain]], [[Monaco]] and [[Senegal]] and [[Solomon Islands]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame/member-profile/?memberID=93&memberType=general
|title=Sport Australia Hall of Fame - Member Profile: Kevan Gosper
|accessdate=2012-02-26
}}</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{sports links}}
* {{Team USA Hall of Fame|new_id=kevan-gosper}}


{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 400m Men}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 400m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 200m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 200m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 400m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 400m Men}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Gosper, Kevan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gosper, Kevan}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian male sprinters]]
[[Category:Australian male sprinters]]
[[Category:Australian Olympic Committee administrators]]
[[Category:Australian Olympic Committee administrators]]
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[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes of Australia]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Australia]]
[[Category:International Olympic Committee members]]
[[Category:People educated at Newcastle Boys' High School]]
[[Category:People educated at Newcastle Boys' High School]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
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[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Shell plc people]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners]]

Latest revision as of 17:12, 19 August 2024

Richard Kevan Gosper
AO
Gosper in 1951
Chief Commissioner of Melbourne
In office
1993–1996
Personal details
Born(1933-12-19)19 December 1933
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Died19 July 2024(2024-07-19) (aged 90)[1]
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Australia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1956 Melbourne 4 × 400 metres relay
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 1954 Vancouver 4 × 110 yards relay
Bronze medal – third place 1958 Cardiff 4 × 110 yards relay

Richard Kevan Gosper, AO[2] (19 December 1933 – 19 July 2024) was an Australian athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. He was a Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, and combined Chairman and CEO of Shell Australia. Gosper died on 19 July 2024, at the age of 90.[3]

1956 Summer Olympics

[edit]

Gosper competed for Australia in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia, where he won the silver medal in the 4 × 400 metre relay with his teammates Graham Gipson, Leon Gregory and David Lean. Their run set a new Australian record of 3 min 6.2 sec.[4]

International Olympic Committee

[edit]

Gosper was nominated to the International Olympic Committee in 1977; was a vice president of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG). He was 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 1980–1985, and president of the Australian Olympic Committee 1985–1990 and continued to serve on its executive board.[citation needed]

From 1980 to 1993 Gosper 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 held include being chief commissioner of the City of Melbourne and chairman of the National Australia Day Council. He was a director of a number of Australian companies, including Crown Resorts, Visy and Lion Nathan.[citation needed]

His autobiography, An Olympic Life, was published in March 2000.[citation needed]

In May 2000, Gosper was criticised after his daughter Sophie was made the first Australian torchbearer in a late change over the previously selected Greek-Australian Yianna Souleles. At age 11, Sophie Gosper was too young by one year to carry the torch in Australia, but was invited by the Hellenic Olympic Committee to be the second carrier of the Olympic flame in Greece.[5] Gosper apologised days later due to public outrage, though he insisted he was not involved in the decision.[6]

He was accused of being an "apologist for dictators" after his criticism of pro-democracy protesters during the Beijing 2008 torch relay.[7] He 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.[8]

Honours

[edit]

Gosper was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 1986 Australia Day Honours for service to sport and sports administration,[9] and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989.[2][10] He received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for services to athletics and the Olympic movement,[11] and was similarly honoured by France, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco and Senegal and Solomon Islands.[10]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/other/australian-olympic-powerbroker-kevan-gosper-dies-aged-90/ar-BB1qfwSE [bare URL]
  2. ^ a b "Gosper, Richard Kevan, AO". It's an Honour. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  3. ^ Olympic powerbroker Kevan Gosper dies, aged 90 MSN
  4. ^ "Our Boys Win a Medal They Didn't Expect". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 3 December 1956. p. 19. Retrieved 21 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Remember when: controversy surrounded the lighting of the Olympic torch for Sydney in 2000". Gold Coast Bulletin. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Kevan Gosper apologises". ABC News. 13 May 2000. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  7. ^ Bolt, Andrew (9 April 2008). "China torched #5". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  8. ^ Maiden, Samantha; Maley, Paul (16 April 2008). "Gosper rebuked on flame security". The Australian. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  9. ^ "AD86" (PDF). Governor General's Office of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Kevan Gosper". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  11. ^ "It's an Honour". Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
[edit]
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