It is with great sadness that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has learnt of the death of Leo Wallner, IOC Honorary Member in Austria, at the age of 79.
Mr Wallner joined the IOC in 1998 and became an Honorary Member last year. He was a member of the Finance Commission (2000-2014), Audit Committee (2006-2012) and the Ethics Commission (2009-2012).
"Leo Wallner was a real gentleman and a sports lover," said IOC President Thomas Bach. "He enjoyed great respect within the IOC, and I am personally grateful for the advice he gave me. I am particularly pleased that I had the chance to award him the Olympic Order a few weeks ago in Vienna," Bach continued.
Leo Wallner was actively involved in the development of sport in Austria, first as Vice-President of the Austrian Sports Aid Foundation (1981-2009) and as President (1990-2009) then Board Member of the Austrian National Olympic Committee. He was also a Board Member of Special Olympics Austria and the Austrian Paralympic Committee and of several Austrian sports federations.
After holding the position of Economic Advisor to the Austrian Prime Minister (Federal Chancellor) from 1964 to 1967, he embarked on a business career in which he held several management positions on the Supervisory Board of Casinos Austria. He then became President of the Management Board of the Austrian Lotteries (1986-2007) and President of the Supervisory Board of Casinos Austria International.
Mr Wallner was also Honorary Senator of the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and of the University of Salzburg.
The IOC expresses its deepest sympathies to Leo Wallner’s family.
For more information, contact:
IOC Media Relations Team
Tel: +41 21 621 6000
email: pressoffice@olympic.org
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