(ATR) Piotr Nurowski, the President of the Polish Olympic Committee died in the plane crash that also claimed the lives of the president of Poland and other dignitaries early Saturday.
Nurowksi and the rest of the plane's passengers were traveling to Smolensk, Russia, to pay respects to the Poles who died in the Katyn Massacre during World War II. More than 20,000 Poles died in the massacre ordered by Stalin, including several Olympians.
European Olympic Committees president Patrick Hickey tells Around the Rings Nurowski was very popular within the European Olympic movement and he will be "very badly missed".
Hickey called the situation "very, very tragic" adding that Nurowski was "a very important member of my Executive Board". He was elected to the EB at the EOC meeting in November. He served as the head of the EOC's marketing commission.
Nurowski, 64, was "a great family man" Hickey said. Nurowski recently became a grandfather and his new grandchildren "were the love of his life" Hickey said.
"His last his last words to me were "I hate these early morning flights but now it means I have all day to spend with my family."
At the moment it is not known who will replace Nurowski at the POC. Hickey said he is in contact with the POC secretary general but that things are in disarray, and the POC is waiting details on the repatriation of Nurowski's remains.
IOC President Jacques Rogge was briefed on the situation by Hickey who called Rogge today.
"Already at [IOC] headquarters the polish flag is flying at half mast" Hickey said.
Rogge also asked Hickey "to be available to go to the funeral". No plans have been made for the funeral.
The POC acknowledged the crash by putting its Web site in a black and white monochrome. Nurowski's picture lined the top of the page superimposed with: "Tragedy in Smolensk" in Polish.
Nurowski is survived by his wife Elizabeth and his children and grandchildren.
Heavy fog obscured the runway in Smolensk. The president's plane reportedly attempted to land four times before it "clipped the tops of the trees, crashed and broke into pieces," the governor of the Smolensk region told local media.
All 97 aboard the jet died in the crash.
In addition to carrying president Lech Kaczynsk and his wife, the entire top military brass and the deputy foreign minister were some of the other passengers on the plane.
"We still cannot fully understand the scope of this tragedy and what it means for us in the future," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Piotr Paszkowski. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Poland."
VIDEO: Vigil in Poland - Click HERE to watch!
Reporting by Edward Hula III
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