AOC: The President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), John Coates, has paid tribute to his Vice President, Peter Montgomery, who announced his retirement from the AOC today.
“Peter has been a close friend and loyal supporter for over 30 years and I am very sad to see him step down” Coates said. “The Olympic Movement in Australia has lost a stalwart, a four-time Olympian in water polo, who has given so much back in his service to the AOC and to sport in general”.
Peter, an AOC Life Member, made his announcement today saying in a letter it was time to reprioritise and reduce his many commitments.
Peter first represented his country at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Recognised as one of Australia’s finest water polo players he competed in Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 when he was Team captain.
Following his retirement as an athlete, Peter decided to give back to sport and became heavily involved as an Olympic official. He was elected Chairman of the first AOC Athletes Commission in 1984 and served on the IOC Athletes Commission from 1988 - 1999. He was also Foundation President of the World Olympians Association (WOA).
He became a member of the AOC Executive in 1989 and in 2001 he was elected an AOC Vice President.
Peter also played a key role in the Sydney Olympics. He was also a member of the Sydney 2000 Bid Committee and the IOC Coordination Commissions for the 1988, 1992, 1994, and 2000 Olympic Games.
At the Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games in 2002, he was awarded the Olympic Order for services to the Olympic Movement.
He was the Honorary Secretary of FINA Water Polo Committee, a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport and four times a Deputy Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team in 96, 2000, 04 and 08. He was also on the Board of the AIS and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC)
More recently he has served as Chair of the AOC Remuneration and Nominations Committee and as a member of the AOC Finance Commission and Audit and Risk Committee. He was a Director of the Australian Olympic Foundation (AOF) and a member of the AOF Investment Advisory Committee and Audit and Risk Committee.
“As a solicitor and astute businessman, Peter has made a most significant contribution to the financial strength of the AOC and the AOF which has benefited many Olympians past and present” Coates said.
“He has always provided sound advice in a host of honorary positions he has held over the years. Peter’s wise counsel and generosity will be sadly missed, everyone wishes him well”.
“As a four-time Olympian he understood the athletes and their needs. In all the Teams in which he was a very capable Deputy Chef, he liked nothing more than engaging with the athletes whether it be a chat in the Village Dining Hall or our in the venues cheering on the Team. Peter was a positive influence on many of them”.
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