Controversial sports offical Arthur Tunstall passes away
Arthur Tunstall. (AAP)
Controversial former Olympic boxing official Arthur Tunstall has passed away, aged 93.
Tunstall, who was the Australian Team Boxing Manager at the 1960, 1968, 1976 and 1980 Olympics, died on Thursday night.
The veteran administrator, who is survived by son Robert, was inducted into the Sports Australian Hall of Fame for his selfless volunteering dedication to boxing.
But the feisty Tunstall is best remembered by many Australians for his controversial remarks in 1994 when he criticised Cathy Freeman for carrying the Aboriginal flag on a victory lap at the Commonwealth Games in Canada.
President of the Australian Olympic Committee Phil Coates was quick to pay tribute to Tunstall on Friday, hailing him for his unique contribution to Australian sport and the Olympic movement.
"I have known Arthur for more than forty years through his many voluntary involvements in Australian sport, but principally in boxing and the Commonwealth Games movement in Australia," Coates said.
"He was at the forefront of the old school of voluntary sports administrators who did so much to create the Australian sports industry as we know it today.”
"Arthur was one of the most respected sporting administrators around the world. He was a man of the highest integrity and character and I am proud to have called him a personal friend.
"My deepest sympathy is extended to his family."
Aside from his Olympic boxing team managerial role, Tunstall was a Boxing Technical Delegate at the 1988 Seoul, 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
He was a Jury Member of the Boxing Program at the 1984 Los Angeles and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the AOC in 1990 as well as an OBE in 1979 for his service to sport.
For all his selfless work as an administrator, Tunstall was involved in numerous controversies including his claim at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games that New Zealand should be considered the seventh and eighth states of Australia
However it was his run in with Freeman when, as chef de mission, he threatened to send her home from the 1994 Commonwealth Games for her flag gesture that caused the most damage.
The blow up came after Tunstall had warned all athletes against carrying any flag other than the Australian flag.
Speaking about the controversy in 2012, Tunstall told Fairfax media:"People asked me about it and I said she should have run with the Australian flag only."
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