Greg Hartung (born 13 April 1947) is an Australian journalist and sports administrator best known for his leadership roles within the Paralympic movement. He served as President of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) from 2001 to 2013 and has held positions on various national and international sport‑governance bodies.
Early life and education
Hartung was born in Australia. He completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, where he studied history and political science. Details of his early personal background beyond his education are limited in publicly available sources.
Journalism career
Prior to his involvement in sports administration, Hartung worked as a political journalist for The Australian newspaper. His reporting focused on national politics and public policy, and he later contributed opinion pieces on sport‑related topics.
Sports administration
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Australian Paralympic Committee: Hartung was appointed President of the APC in 2001, succeeding Ron Finneran. During his tenure, he oversaw the preparation and participation of Australian athletes in multiple Summer Paralympic Games, including Sydney 2000 (pre‑presidency involvement), Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012. Under his leadership, Australia maintained a strong medal performance and expanded the visibility of Paralympic sport domestically. Hartung stepped down as President in 2013 and was succeeded by Glenn Tasker.
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International Paralympic Committee (IPC): Hartung served as a member of the IPC Governing Board and contributed to policy development for the global Paralympic movement.
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Other roles: He has been a member of the Australian Sports Commission’s Advisory Board and chaired the Australian Sport for All Commission, advocating inclusive sports participation.
Honours and recognition
- Member of the Order of Australia (AM), awarded in the 2008 Australia Day Honours “for service to sport, particularly through the Australian Paralympic Committee, and to the community.”
- Recognition by the Australian Paralympic Committee for his contributions to Paralympic sport, including a lifetime achievement award presented in 2015.
Publications and commentary
Hartung has authored articles and opinion pieces on sport policy, disability sport, and the Paralympic Games. His writings appear in Australian newspapers, sports journals, and APC publications.
Personal life
Publicly available information about Hartung’s personal life, including family and current activities after his APC presidency, is limited. He remains a respected figure in Australian sport administration circles and occasionally appears as a commentator on Paralympic matters.
