Olympic movement veteran and businessman Kevan Gosper dies aged 90

The silver medallist and former Shell Australia chief, who was due to attend the Games in Paris later this month, has passed away peacefully at the age of 90.

Kevan Gosper in Rio de Janeiro in 2015. Picture: AAP

Olympic silver medallist and veteran of the Olympic movement, Kevan Gosper, AO, has died at the age of 90.

Mr Gosper, who was due to attend the Olympics in Paris later this month, passed away peacefully in hospital in Queensland with his family on Friday morning after a short illness.

Mr Gosper won a silver medal in the 4 by 400m relay in the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 with teammates Graham Gipson, Leon Gregory and David Lean.

He captained the men’s athletics team in the Rome Olympics in 1960.

He won a gold medal in the 440 yards and a bronze medal in the 4 by 110 yards (100m) relay at the 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.

He won a bronze in the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958 in the 4 by 110 yards relay.

A businessman who was chief executive of Shell Australia he combined his interest in sport with his commercial career.

He was inaugural chair of the Australian Institute for Sport from 1980 to 1985, and president of the Australian Olympic Committee from 1985 to 1990.

He rose to become a vice president of the International Olympic Committee.

He was nominated to the International Olympic Committee in 1977.

He was vice president of the Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

He was chief of the IOC Press Commission which included the Beijing Olympics in 2008 where he insisted that the internet be open.

Gosper with Australian of The Year Award winner Cathy Freeman in 1998.

He presented the gold medal to Cathy Freeman for her 400m victory in the 2000 Olympics, the two having struck up a friendship as both being 400 metre runners, and having worked together on the unsuccessful Melbourne bid for the 1996 Olympics.

Kevan Gosper was a director of a number of Australian companies including Crown Resorts, Visy and Lion Nathan.

Mr Gosper was also chief commissioner of the city of Melbourne and chairman of the National Australia Day Council.

He is survived by his wife Judy and four children, Brett and Dean from his first wife Jillian, who passed away in 1981, and Richard and Sophie.

His sons have continued the family sporting tradition.

The former chief executive of World Rugby, Brett Gosper is head of Europe and Asia Pacific for the National Football League of the US.

Dean Gosper is a former chair of Snow Australia.

Mr Gosper’s autobiography, An Olympic Life, was published in March 2000.

Glenda Korporaal was co-author of An Olympic Life.