Xxxx94 - Bob McCullough - 3b - scan cropped

Robert McCullough OAM (12 October 1931 – 9 January 2017) was a leading Australian sport administrator particularly in the area of disability sport. He was President of the Australian Paralympic Federation and the

International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation World Abilitysport (formerly the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation or IWAS) is an international sports organisation that governs sports for athletes with physical impairments. It is a registered charity with its headquarte ...

Personal

McCullough was born on 12 October 1931. He was an aircraft engineer and worked for the

Australian Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the G ...

. He died on 9 January 2017, aged 85.

Sport administration career

In 1983, McCullough was the inaugural Chairperson of the North Queensland Sports Foundation. He held this position until 1986. From 1989 to 1999, he was President of Wheelchair Sports Australia (now Australian Athletes with a Disability). In 1994, he was appointed President of the Australian Paralympic Federation. He took over the Federation at a time when it had limited funds and near bankruptcy. McCullough put in place a marketing and fundraising strategy that aimed to raise $1.5 million for the team to compete at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. An outcome of this approach was the Motor Accident Authority of New South Wales providing $100,000 and employment for 10 athletes in the promotion of disabilities through motor vehicle accidents. Whilst President, he negotiated an agreement with the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee so that the Federation received $5.5 million for marketing rights over the four years leading to the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. These financial arrangements coupled with the Australian Governments Paralympic Preparation Program led to the Australian team finishing 2nd on the medal tally at the 1996 Atlanta Games. McCullogh was replaced as President in 1997 by

Marie Little Marie Therese Little Order of Australia, OAM (1 January 1933 – 17 August 2014) was a leading Australian sport administrator particularly in the area of disability sport. She was President of the Australian Paralympic Committee, Australian Para ...

. He was a Director of the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee (1997–2000). McCullough’s contribution to international sport included his roles as President of the

(1996–2001),

International Paralympic Committee The International Paralympic Committee (IPC; ) is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nin ...

Executive (1996–2002), and representative of the Paralympics in the

IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC; , CIO) is the international, non-governmental, sports governing body of the modern Olympic Games. Founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas, it is based in L ...

Evaluation Commission for the 2008 Bidding Cities (2001). In 2001, he was unsuccessful in his bid to become President of the International Paralympic Committee.

Recognition

McCullough was recognized for his service to disability sport and regional sport development. *1996 –

Medal of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of then ...

(OAM) at the

1996 Queen's Birthday Honours Queen's Birthday Honours are announced on or around the date of the Queen's Official Birthday in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The dates vary, both from year to year and from country to country. All are published in suppl ...

for service to sport through the Australian Paralympic Federation, North Queensland Games Foundation and little athletics. *1996 – Sports Administrator of the Year Award by the

Confederation of Australian Sport The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) is the highest national body for sport in Australia. It was established in 1976 to advance the interests of the Australian sports community and to give the industry a united voice in discussions and nego ...

. *2000 –

Sport Australia Hall of Fame The Sport Australia Hall of Fame was established on 10 December 1985 to recognise the achievements of Australian sportsmen and sportswomen. The inaugural induction included 120 members with Don Bradman, Sir Don Bradman as the first inductee and ...

General Member *2002 – International Paralympic Committee’s

Paralympic Order The Paralympic symbols are the icons, flags, and symbols used by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to promote the Paralympic Games. Motto The current Paralympic motto is "Spirit in Motion". It was introduced at the 2004 Summer Paralymp ...

* Life Member North Queensland Sports Foundation

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCullough, Bob Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Paralympics Australia officials Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees Recipients of the Paralympic Order 1931 births 2017 deaths Place of birth missing