Honored: 2006
Location: Israel
Alex Gilady has been Israel’s leading sports
internationalist since September 5, 1994, when he
was elected his nation’s first member of
the International Olympic Committee.
Gilady’s initial
Olympics involvement came as deputy team leader
of the Israeli television delegation to the ill-fated
1972 Munich Games. Four years
later, he was head of sport and executive producer for Israel TV’s
coverage of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. This successful coverage led to a
promotion as
executive producer of all Israel TV special events, including Egyptian President
Anwar El-Sadat’s historic visit to Jerusalem in 1977, and the subsequent
Israel-Egypt peace talks. To organize the coverage, Gilady was granted the
first Israeli passport to enter Egypt.
Alex Gilady’s distinguished career
in sports media began in 1964 when he took an entry-level position with
the Israel’s daily newspaper Yedioth
Ahronoth. Less than a year later he was elevated to the position of journalist
and correspondent. In 1969, he joined the newly established Israel State
Television as a sports commentator and editor, and later became its head
of sports and
executive producer.
In 1980, Gilady became a member of the European
Broadcasting Union’s Operation
Group to the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, while continuing on as Israel
TV’s
sports chief and on-air basketball and track & field commentator.
Developing
an impressive international “can-do” reputation in high
level broadcasting suites, the Teheran-born Israeli was invited to join
NBC Sports in 1981. Less than a year later, his expertise resulted in
the network’s
acquisition of the broadcast rights to the first World Track and Field
Championships in Helsinki. This event marked a new era for international
sports on American
television.
In 1984, Gilady was promoted to network Vice-President
for Liaison to the IOC Radio-Television Commission;
and later, senior Vice-President
of Global
Operations.
He played a major role in the network’s acquisition of broadcast
rights to the summer and winter Olympic Games of 1988, 2000, 2002,
2004, 2006 and
2008.
Gilady was named chairman of the IAAF TV Commission
in 1985, which was charged with the responsibility
of revolutionizing broadcast
coverage
of track and
field. In 1986, he joined the Executive Group of the IOC Radio-TV
Commission, the recognized
authority for broadcasting the Olympic Games. Since 2004, he has
been chairman of the FIBA TV Council.
In 1993,
Keshet Broadcasting, Gilady’s bid to become
Israel’s first
commercial television channel, was granted a franchise, with the
founder its president and CEO. The transaction
was completed with NBC’s blessing, and
Gilady continues in the network’s service.
Among the numerous
honors Alex Gilady has received: the 1977 Israel Broadcasting Association
(IBA) Award for coverage of President Sadat’s first visit to
Jerusalem; Israel’s 1977 “Man of the Year” honors
in recognition of his production of the first Israeli broadcast from
Egypt; and Emmy Awards
for television coverage of the Olympic Games in 1992 (Barcelona),
1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney) and Salt Lake city (2002).
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented
annually, honoring those individuals who have
made significant contributions to the State
of Israel and society through sports.
