The AOC is mourning the passing of Phil Coles AM, three times Olympian in canoe sprint, former IOC Member, AOC Life Member and AOC Executive Board Member and Secretary General.
AOC President Ian Chesterman paid tribute to Mr Coles as a great servant of sport at all levels, following his passing on Saturday afternoon, aged 91, after a short illness.
“His service to Australian sport was immense. Phil’s passing, after a lifetime in sport, is a sad day for the Olympic movement and for many involved in the wider sports community in Australia.
“I was particularly pleased to see Phil at the Tokyo Olympics at the canoe events - a chance for him to return to one of his host cities of his three Olympic Games as an athlete, and one that was obviously very important to him.
“He greatly enjoyed the opportunity to watch the current day competitors, the athletes being at the heart of his long service to the Olympic movement. Phil was a great servant of sport, at an international and national level as well as in grassroots sport through local communities.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to Patricia and Phil’s family and friends,” Mr Chesterman concluded.
IOC Member in Australia John Coates said Phil Coles stood up for Australian sport during the most challenging of times.
“The athletes of Australia have lost one of their true champions and the AOC one of its strongest leaders.
“It was Phil who was key to our participation in Moscow 1980 and notwithstanding intense personal and public abuse.
“It was this participation by the Australian Olympic Team against the wishes of the then Prime Minister and Australian Government that once and for all emphasized the independence of the Australian Olympic Committee,” Mr Coates concluded.
Funeral arrangements for Mr Coles will be announced in the coming days.
Phil Coles AM
- Three-times Olympian: Rome 1960, Tokyo 1964 & Mexico 1968
- Chef de Mission: Moscow 1980
- IOC Member 1982-2011
- IOC Honorary Member 2012
- Awarded Olympic Order 2000
- AOF (now AOC) Executive from 1973-2011
- AOF Secretary General 1985-1993
- AOC Life Member
- ONOC Executive Board from 1981
- Australian Sports Commission Board Member 1984-1987
- National Canoe champion 25 times
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame 1993
- Paddle Australia Hall of Fame
- Australian Sports Medal 2000
- Vice President SOCOG 1993-1999
