TRIBUTE

Kevan Gosper AO

19 December 1933 to 19 July 2024

His 20-year tenure as President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), from 1989 to 2009, saw transformative progress in the sporting landscape of the Pacific, where his passion, dedication, and visionary leadership left an indelible legacy.

Kevan’s lifelong love for the Pacific began during his first journey out of Australia, when he travelled through Fiji enroute to the USA in 1952, stopping at the than Fiji Mocambo Hotel (now Novotel) in Nadi for dinner during a slow, multi-day trip on the propeller-driven Stratocruiser, which flew at just 540 kilometres per hour.

Kevan's family had deep ties to Papua New Guinea, as his father had served there during the war as a captain and registrar in a front-line military hospital. Shortly after returning from the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, Kevan was recruited in early 1961 to serve as Area Manager for Shell in Papua New Guinea, based in Rabaul on the remote island of New Britain. His responsibilities extended to overseeing operations in Bougainville and the British Solomon Islands Protectorate.

On Kevan's first night in Papua New Guinea, he was immediately drawn into the local sporting scene when he was invited to dinner at the District Commissioner’s home.

In his book An Olympic Life – Melbourne 1856 – Sydney 2000, Kevan recalls how John Gunther, the legendary assistant Administrator of the territory, took him aside on the veranda for a quiet chat:

“We’re very happy that Shell has chosen to send you here. We’ve entered for the Commonwealth Games in Perth, and we don’t know what to do next. We’ve got some boxers and a white lawn bowls team, and we’ve got some young Papua New Guineans who can run like the wind. The strongest of them are in Rabaul.

Can you devote some time to training them and give us a hand on the administration side? I’m sure Shell wouldn’t mind if you did and I don’t think it will hurt the business,” he added with a grin.

Kevan was soon appointed as the General Manager to the 1962 Commonwealth Games for Papua New Guinea’s first-ever international team, marking a significant milestone in the country’s sporting history.

Kevan's connection to the Pacific deepened in 1969 when he was appointed General Manager for the Pacific Islands for Shell, overseeing operations across the South-West Pacific, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa. His responsibilities extended to open up business in new areas such as Guam, American Samoa, Tahiti and the Cook Islands. All this knowledge and experience in the Pacific, helped Kevan for his true calling of regional Sports Leadership.

In a landmark meeting at Shell House, in Melbourne in 1989, Kevan was elected President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), a role he held with distinction until passing the baton to his Vice President, Dr. Robin Mitchell, at the Annual Congress in Queenstown. The event, attended by IOC President Jacques Rogge, marked the end of Kevan's influential leadership at the helm of ONOC.

As the doyen of ONOC, Kevan remained a steadfast leader in the region, serving as the President of the Organisation of Sports Federations of Oceania (OSFO), a position he held until March this year. He also chaired the Oceania Australia Foundation, which he helped establish in 2007 and continued to lead until his passing.

Over the past three years, Kevan also took on the important role of Chair of ONOC's Brisbane Working Committee for the 'Home Games Advantage' Initiative, guiding its strategic direction and ensuring alignment with the overarching goals towards the 2032 Games for ONOC and its sports stakeholders.

Kevan's work in strengthening the Olympic movement across Oceania helped many smaller island nations find their place on the global stage.

Through his tireless advocacy, he ensured that athletes from Pacific Island nations had better access to resources, training opportunities, scholarships and representation at the Olympic Games.

His commitment to equity and inclusion empowered athletes from some of the world’s smallest nations to compete alongside the world’s best, fostering a sense of unity and pride that transcended borders.

Beyond the arena of competition, Kevan Gosper was instrumental in the development of sports infrastructure, training programs, and educational initiatives throughout the Pacific Islands. His efforts led to the creation of stronger National Olympic Committees in the region and inspired greater participation in sport at all levels. He believed in the power of sport to bring about positive change, and his work with ONOC was a testament to that belief.

Kevan’s leadership, wisdom, and relentless drive have left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations of athletes and sports leaders. His contribution to the Oceania region and the Pacific Islands will be remembered as one of profound significance, and his spirit will live on in the successes of the athletes and organizations he so passionately supported.

Other tributes on Kevan Gosper

Tribute from the International Olympic Committee

Tribute from the Association of National Olympic Committees

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