Ottavio Cinquanta has died, Italian sport in mourning

Octavius Fifty has died

Day of mourning for the Italian Ice Sports Federation: at the age of 83, Ottavio Cinquanta has left us. Born on August 15, 1938, in Rome, Cinquanta was undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in the history of Italian ice and, more generally, of the entire tricolor sports scene.

A sports executive in ice sports since the 1970s, in his youth Cinquanta – who had a degree in business administration and was first a company executive in the chemical industry – had devoted himself to ice hockey and speed skating. From 1973 to 1980 president of the Technical Committee, then from 1984 to 1988 vice-president of the Italian Ice Sports Federation, he was also designated international referee at numerous editions of the World Cup and Winter Olympic Games.

Over the decades, Ottavio Cinquanta has played a key role in the ranks of the International Skating Union, of which he was a member and Chairman of the Technical Committee from 1975 to 1992, then Vice-President from 1992 to 1994, and finally President from 1994 to 2016, the year from which he remained Honorary President. Among the many initiatives promoted during his presidency were the introduction of short track into the Olympic program and the reform of jury evaluations in figure skating.

An IOC member from 1996 to 2016 and as such a Member of the CONI National Council and Board, Ottavio Cinquanta took part in the IOC Executive Committee as an International Winter Federation Representative (2000-2008) and was a member of the following IOC Commissions: Olympic Movement (1994-1999), Olympic Solidarity (1994-2001), Coordination for the XIX Olympic Winter Games in 2002 in Salt Lake City (1996-2002), “IOC 2000” (Executive Committee, 1999), Marketing (2002), TV Rights and New Media (2002-2015), Follow-up of the “IOC 2000” reform (2002), Coordination for the XXI Olympic Winter Games in 2010 in Vancouver (2003-2010) , Coordination of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi (2007-2014), Coordination of the first Olympic Winter Youth Games in 2012 in Innsbruck (2009-2012), Coordination of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in 2018 in PyeongChang (2011- 2018).