Sports media icon Ian Hanson OAM has been conferred Life Membership of Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) as part of Annual General Meeting (AGM) proceedings in Sydney yesterday.

A stalwart of the media mixed zones having attended ten Games as a journalist, Media Director and media liaison, Hanson was humbled by the acknowledgement and enthusiastic about his experiences with the Australian Commonwealth Games Team.

He was awarded as a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to media, communications, and sport in 2019.

“To see my name alongside those that have been honoured before me is something that astounds me, it’s a real honour,” Hanson said.

“I’ve had so many magical moments at the Commonwealth Games, things that have stuck in my mind and will continue to do so.

“Times have changed from dictating copy to copy takers as a journalist to my most recent tenure leading the media team in Birmingham, but each experience has made me want to be back at the next Games.

“I believe that my recognition today is acknowledgement for the impact of media folks at the Games, from journalists to media managers, and all that they do to make athletes the heroes we know and love.”

CGA President Ben Houston congratulated Hanson for his service to the Commonwealth Sport Movement in Australia.

“Life membership is only conferred upon those who have contributed in an exemplary way and Hanson is among those that have gone above and beyond for the Commonwealth Games in Australia,” Houston said.

The induction of Hanson as Life Member follows the announcement of Trinbago 2023 gold medallist Tayte Ryan as the 2023 Emerging Athlete of the Year at the President’s Dinner on Tuesday night.

Ryan collected three cycling gold medals at last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games, before going on to win gold and the rainbow jersey in the 1000m Kilo Time Trial at the 2023 UCI Junior Track World Championships.

The President’s Dinner also saw Orders of Merit presented for the first time, with sports marketer Michael Bushell AM, philanthropist Robert Gerard AO, Gold Coast 2018 CEO Mark Peters OAM, and highly regarded team officials Carol Grant and David ‘Charlie’ Walsh OAM honoured.

The Order of Merit complements life membership and recognises the outstanding contribution of individuals to the Commonwealth Sport Movement in Australia and across the world.