The Australian Olympic Committee Historian, Harry Gordon, has paid tribute to broadcaster Tony Charlton who has passed away describing Charlton as “one of the most generous, caring, thoughtful men I have ever met”.

One of Australia’s finest sporting commentators with a career spanning 60 years, Charlton, called every major event from Australian Rules Football, tennis, motor racing and the Olympics.

He had been suffering from cancer but continued his engagements while undergoing treatment. Earlier this year he was on stage at the Prime Minister’s Olympic Dinner in Melbourne.

In 2008 Charlton was awarded the Australian Olympic Committee Order of Merit. Other honours include the AFL Hall of Fame, Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the Order of Australia.

In his tribute today Gordon said “we met at the Melbourne Olympics where we were both reporters. He is known mainly for his commentating - he called the famous Mexico City 200m Black Power race with Peter Norman. He also called Betty Cuthbert’s fourth gold medal in Tokyo”.

“So much of what he did for charity is unknown, he did so much for Legacy – his father was a solder in France in World War One. He was a constant giver,” Gordon said.

AOC