Frankfurt, 1st August German sport and the Olympic Movement all salute Berthold Beitz, an IOC Member for 16 years, from 1972 to 1988, including a stint as Vice President, from 1984 to 1988, and then Honorary Member.
A great sportsman, Beitz, who died aged 99, was a sailor, shooter and rower. He was also a Member of several IOC Commissions, including: Finance, New Sources of Financing, Olympic Movement, Preparation of the XII Olympic Congress, and Council of the Olympic Order. He was also an Honorary Chairman of the Olympic Museum Foundation from 1989.
In his own country, he was a Member of the Board of the West German NOC (1972-1988), a Member of the Board of Directors of the Organizing Committee for the XX Olympiad in Munich in 1972, and President of the Administrative Council of the Olympic sailing events in Kiel, Germany (1966-1972).
A German industrialist then ThyssenKrupp patriarch, during World War II he risked his life many times saving hundreds of Jews.
“Berthold Beitz radiated great humanity. For sport and myself personally, right up to the final days of his life, he was always an accessible and inspiring adviser and helper. We are deeply grateful to him for that” said Thomas Bach, President of Germany’s Olympic Committee.
The EOC expresses its deepest sympathy to the DOSB and Beitz’s family.