Bob Elphinston interview - Beyond the Baseline: Bob Elphinston’s Global Gameplan
We hope you enjoy episode #27 of our Australian Basketball History series - an in-depth interview with Bob “Elpho” Elphinston – Beyond the Baseline: Elpho’s Global Gameplan
We sat down recently with Bob “Elpho” Elphinston to talk about 2 imminent masters events on the Australian masters basketball calendar, get his advice on developing the sport in Australia, and walk through his illustrious and unrivalled career in sports and sports administration.
Elpho’s contribution is singular—beyond comparison, beyond imitation. He is unquestionably one of the most influential, revered, and respected figures in the history of basketball and sports, both in Australia and on the global stage. Elpho played a pivotal part in architecting the basketball’s international development. His dedication, leadership, and passion have earned him global recognition, cementing his legacy as a true legend of the game.
A former physical education teacher, where he enjoyed his first taste of basketball, Elpho gained guidance, support, and inspiration by being closely associated with great basketball mentors such as Lindsay Gaze and Adrian Hurley and players like Phil Smyth and Andrew Gaze. He coached club, district, and state teams with great success, and oversaw the development and operation of the seven court Bankstown (Sydney) Basketball Stadium in Sydney during his 17-year term as President.
Elpho was a founding director of the National Basketball League (NBL) and managed the Australian men’s basketball team to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He has visited more than 35 countries with touring teams during his 30-year career as a basketball coach and manager, and in 2006 was elected as president of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) until 2010. He was also founding president of the Australian Basketball Coaches Association.
In 1991, Elpho was appointed general manager for the Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Company. His work was ultimately rewarded in 1993 when Sydney won the right to host the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As SOCOG’s General Manager – Sport, Elpho was directly responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the 28 sports at the Games. With 11,100 athletes from 199 nations, more than 8 million spectators and a world-wide television audience of 3.9 billion, he personally rallied the cause of Sydney 2000, holding to its commitment of being the ‘athlete’s Games’.
Elpho oversaw the sports competition, the sports schedule, sport services, sport presentations, sport policy and operations, medical services, doping control, IOC relations and protocol, National Olympic Committees services and language services. During the Games, this accounted for over 7500 staff and volunteers.
In recognition of his significant contribution in bidding for and staging the ‘best Games ever’, the IOC appointed him to the IOC Evaluation Commission for the selection of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic cities. In October 2000, he was awarded the Olympic Order by the President of the IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Elpho then joined the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) as Director of Sport & Operations and was responsible for international relations, organising the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, and the ongoing development of sport in Australia. In October 2001, he was appointed secretary general of the AOC and was the Australian team administration director of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He acts as a consultant for the IOC and is actively assisting the IOC and future Summer and Winter Olympic Organising Committees and the Olympic Sports Programme.
Elpho has attended five Summer Olympics (1984 Los Angeles, 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, and 2004 Athens), three Olympic Winter Games (1994 Lillehammer, 1998 Nagano, and 2002 Salt Lake City), and four Commonwealth Games (1962 Perth, 1982 Brisbane, 1994 Victoria (Canada), and 1998 Kuala Lumpur).
Elpho was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2002 for service to sport through the Sydney Olympic 2000 Bid Company and the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.
It was an honour to interview Elpho, and my time with him stands as one of my most treasured achievements. Elpho stands alone in the annals of basketball administration history, his legacy is Unmatchable, Unrivalled, and Unrepeatable.
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe … and feel free to reach out if you have any recommendations for interviews with people who have contributed to Australian basketball history.