As the inaugural Chair of the AIS, a position he held from 1980-1985, Gosper and AIS Director Don Talbot oversaw the official opening of the nation’s first dedicated high performance sporting facility on January 26, 1981.

There were few areas of sport that Gosper didn’t make an impact on. As an athlete, he represented his country at two Olympics (1956, 1960) and two Commonwealth Games (1954, 1958), and continued to serve Australian sport through roles including President of the Australian Olympic Committee and Vice President of the Sydney 2000 Organising Committee.

Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins OAM said his passing on the eve of the Paris 2024 Games will be felt across Australian sport.

“On behalf of the Australian Sports Commission, I would like to extend my condolences to Kevan’s family and friends and pay tribute to his extraordinary service to sport,” Mr Perkins said.

“Kevan was a true leader in sport, both here in Australia and around the world.

“His foundational leadership has seen the AIS grow from eight sports to an internationally recognised sporting hub, which has helped Australian athletes succeed on the world stage for more than four decades.

“His insight, experience, and dedication will be missed but will not be forgotten by all those who continue to benefit from the AIS Kevan helped built. Vale.”