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Doig made enormous contribution to sport and the arts
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Doig made enormous contribution to sport and the arts
People throughout New Zealand, and especially within the sport and arts sector, will be mourning the loss of Chris Doig, says SPARC Chief Executive Peter Miskimmin.
Doig died in Christchurch this morning, after a long illness.
Miskimmin said Doig had an intriguing career, making his mark across both sport and the arts, bridging a gap that few others had.
``Chris was a very passionate, wonderful New Zealander who made an enormous contribution to sport and to the arts, where he also made his mark at the highest levels. He was a big man - of stature, of heart, of vision and of voice,’’ Miskimmin says.
``He had great connections with people throughout the world and will be sorely missed. He showed great courage throughout his illness, and I’m sure the thoughts of all those at SPARC and throughout the sports sector are with his family today.’’
Miskimmin says Doig’s talent for sport had shone through at an early age. At school he was an all-rounder, playing First XI cricket and hockey for Christchurch Boys High. It was in hockey that he became a provincial representative with an Auckland team.
His other great love was music and the arts.
Doig’s singing career began after winning the 1972 Mobil
Song Quest. After that, he secured a position as a principal
tenor at the Vienna State Opera House and sang in renowned
opera houses throughout Europe. He directed the 1990 and
1992 New Zealand Festivals.
He was honoured with an OBE
for his services to the Arts, and in June this year was made
a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
He was lured from the arts back to sport in 1995, when he was offered the position of Chief Executive at New Zealand Cricket.
Doig was a member of the SPARC Board from 2003 to 2009 and also sat on the boards of Rowing New Zealand, the Winter Games, Vbase and the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Earlier this year, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the sport sector at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.
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