Issue date
The New Zealand Olympic Committee is honouring the memory of former Chef de Mission and IOC Member Sir Tay Wilson who passed away over Labour Weekend.
A strong advocate of athletes with a background in both sport and business, Sir Tay played a significant role in New Zealand sport and the Olympic Movement throughout his lifetime as an administrator, athlete and leader.
Notably, Sir Tay led a small group of New Zealand athletes to the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, after a government-led boycott. With Sir Tay as Chef de Mission, this team of just four athletes marched into the Moscow stadium under the Olympic rings and fern emblem rather than the New Zealand flag. “They forgot it was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for many,” said Sir Tay of the decisions made at the time.
After the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, Sir Tay went on to become deputy Chef de Mission of the New Zealand team at Los Angeles 1984 before being made Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee in 1985, a position he held until 1990.
Sir Tay was also instrumental in strengthening New Zealand’s position in the wider Olympic Movement. He was elected to the IOC in 1988 and remained an honorary member until his death.
He also served New Zealand sport through his work with the Association of National Olympic Committees, Oceania Association of National Olympic Committees and the Commonwealth Games Federation. Today New Zealand’s position within the Olympic and Movement remains strong.
Sir Tay, who was born in Fielding in 1925, was 89.
More About Sir Tay
Born
Fielding, New Zealand 1925
Career
Company director and chartered accountant
Sports practised
Rowing, badminton, golf, surf lifesaving, swimming, field hockey
Sports career
Competitive rowing (1943-1961); double sculls national junior champion (1959); field hockey senior provincial representative (1942)
Honours
OBE 1989
New Zealand Olympic Order - 2006
DCNZM 2007
KNZM 2009
Sports administration
Former Chairman and Life Member of the New Zealand Rowing Association and the Wellington Amateur Rowing Association; treasurer, member, judge, selector and official of numerous sports associations (rowing, swimming, hockey, golf, badminton); Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980; deputy Chef de Mission at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984; Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (1985-1990); member of the ANOC Executive (1989-1993; 1996-2000); member of the ANOC Finance Commission (1985-1989); member of the Commonwealth Games Federation Finance Commission (1986-1994); Chairman of the Finance Commission of the ONOC (1985-1993); Secretary General of ONOC (1989-1993); Life Member of the Special Olympics of New Zealand Foundation; President of New Zealand Pierre de Coubertin Committee (1991-); President of the Pierre de Coubertin Institute (1993-); Patron of Volleyball New Zealand Inc
IOC History
Member of the IOC from 1988 to 2006; Honorary Member since 2006; member of the following Commissions: New Sources of Financing (1989-1993), Finance (1994-2006)
