Sir Arthur Abraham Gold (January 10, 1917 – May 25, 2001) was one of the world's best-known sporting administrators, notable as a fearless and uncompromising enemy of drug-taking^[1][2] He led the British athletics teams at three Olympic Games (at Mexico in 1968, Munich, 1972, and Montreal, 1976) and was commandant of the English Commonwealth Games Team at Brisbane (1982), Edinburgh (1986) and Auckland (1990) and of the British Olympic Team at Albertville and Barcelona in 1992.^[3]

Biography

Arthur Gold was born on January 10, 1917, in a Jewish family, to Mark and Leah Gold.^[3][4] He studied at the Grocers' Company School.^[3] Later, he attended the Loughborough Summer School at the age of 17.^[3] As an athlete, he represented the United Kingdom on the tours of Finland and Norway in 1937 at high jump.^[5]

In 1965 Gold became secretary of the governing body for athletics, the British Amateur Athletics Board, a predecessor of UK Athletics. In 1974 he was appointed CBE.^[5]

Between 1979 and 1990 Gold was chairman of the Commonwealth Games Council.^[3]

He was knighted in the 1984 New Year Honours.^[5]

From 1984 to 1992 Gold was chairman of the British Olympic Association and was later its vice president.^[4][6]

Gold also held the position of honorary life president of the European Athletics Association.^[5]

In 1991 Gold received the Olympic Order (silver) for his services.^[5]