The former athlete, who represented Australia in basketball at three Olympic Games, including as captain at Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980, will remain on the Gold Coast 2018 Board, for now, to offer expertise and guidance.

Speaking to insidethegames, 67-year-old Crosswhite reflected on how much the organisation has changed since he was first involved at the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games, when it was still a 10-sport event.

Other highlights for him included Melbourne 2006 and the 2004 Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo, he said.

He is looking forward to Gold Coast 2018 too. 

"When I started we had an honorary secretary and I was the first chief executive,"said Crosswhite. 

"We were a volunteer body that put a Commonwealth Games team together but didn't do too much else..

"I've learnt to grow with a changing organisation, and we have grown to fund sports and have far bigger assets.

"However, even today our staff remains only four as we have always tried to prioritise the athletes over the administration."

Melbourne 2006 was selected as a particular highlight for Perry Crosswhite, who has retired as chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association ©Getty Images



Crosswhite, who was born in Washington D.C. but emigrated to Australia to play basketball when he was 22, also spoke more generally of the challenges facing the Commonwealth Games movement heading forward, but said he approves with the input given by the Transformation 2022 seven-year strategic plan.

Gold Coast 2018 chief executive Mark Peters wished Crosswhite well.

"Mr Crosswhite is unequivocally one of Australia's foremost sporting leaders and we have an enormous amount of admiration for the role he has played in developing sport in this country," he said.

"He has made the transition from outstanding sportsman to outstanding administrator.

"He has led the Australian team in five consecutive Commonwealth Games and played a major part in the successful bid for both the Melbourne 2006 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"Mr Crosswhite will remain on the GOLDOC Board as a representative of the ACGA.

"We look forward to continuing to draw on his great wealth of experience as we journey towards delivering a great Games in 2018.

The search is now underway for a new ACGA chief executive. 

The job advert said the Melbourne-based ACGA are looking for "a dynamic and inspirational leader".

The successful candidate will be paid AUD$300,000 (£154,000/$228,000/€209,000) per year. 

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