Luxembourg, 17th December onetime COSL president Gerard Rasquin died in Luxembourg aged 86 last Tuesday 12th December. Before becoming head of the duchy’s leading sports body, he began as a top level athlete and then a director of the national athletes’ federation.
As athlete, Gerard Rasquin took part in the Helsinki 1952 Games and then those in Melbourne four years later. In Finland, he was eliminated in the 400 m with a time of 50 “. He also ran the 4x400m relay with Schaeffer, Hamilius and Hammer. They were eliminated with a time 3’16 “2, but it remained a national record for many years to come, indeed till 1998! In 1956 in Melbourne, he ran both the 400 and 800 metres, being eliminated with 50″6 and 1’52″7.
His sporting feats include two bronze medals in the 400 m and 800 m at the university championships in Merano in 1948-1949.
He became president of his Olympic committee in 1977, succeeding Josy Barthel, and was followed by Norbert Haupert in 1989, when he became honorary president and became knight of the order of merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The NOC has posted on its website that “Gérard Rasquin will be remembered as a great athlete and eminent sports leader. He was the man behind today’s Olympic movement of Luxembourg, and was a great defender of the autonomy of sport in the interest of athletes, whilst promoting constructive dialogue with the other actors within the world of sport, and was greatly respected both at home and abroad for both his personality and competence.”
The EOC extend their condolences to the COSL, his family and friends.
photo: Gerard Rasquin, (2nd from left) together with other recent COSL presidents, from left to right: Norbert Haupert, André Hoffmann (encumbent), Marc Theisen.