Former President of UCI & IOC Honorary member Hein Verbruggen dies

A cycling fanatic and a true sports fan, Hein Verbruggen, IOC Honorary Member in the Netherlands, died at the age of 75.

Verbruggen joined IOC in 1996 and became an Honorary Member in 2008. He headed the Evaluation Commission for the Beijing Olympic Summer Games 2008 (2001) and then Chaired the Coordination Commission for Olympic Games Beijing 2008 (2001-2008). He played an instrumental role in supporting the Organising Committee over the seven years of preparations, and hence contributed significantly to the success of the Games in Beijing.

In his tribute to the Honorary member of IOC, the IOC President Thomas Bach said, “Hein Verbruggen was a fearless fighter for his sport. Thanks to his great engagement and his management skills, he greatly contributed to the success of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 as Chair of the Coordination Commission. For this he will be always remembered.”

Verbruggen was also a member, as a representative of an International Federation, of the Evaluation Commission for the Olympic Games 2004 (1996-1997) and consequently sat at the Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games 2004 in Athens (1998-2001).

Throughout his career at the IOC, he was a involved with the following Commissions: Marketing (1997-2008), “IOC 2000” (1999), Olympic Truce (2000-2013) and IOC 2000 Reform Follow-up (2002), and was also Chair of the Board of Directors of Olympic Broadcasting Services S.A. (Switzerland) (2003-2014).

Hein Verbruggen started his career in sales before running his own consultancy business. In 1979, he joined the board of the Fédération Internationale de Cyclisme Professionnel (FICP) before becoming Vice-President in 1982, and President in 1984.

Hein Verbruggen was a Board member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) from 2000 to 2003, and represented the International Federations on the Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from 1999 to 2002. Verbruggen played an active role within the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands; he was made an Honorary Member in 2008.

Verbruggen received a number of distinctions during the course of his career. He became an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau; was made an Honorary Citizen of Beijing, People’s Republic of China, in 2009; and was awarded the Olympic Order in 2010.

The IOC, in the press release, expressed its deepest sympathies to Hein Verbruggen’s family. As a mark of respect the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast at the IOC Headquarters.